Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Medication has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
(medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
"After consulting with her doctor, Sarah started taking a new medication to manage her chronic headaches."
the act of treating with medicines or remedies
"The hospital's primary focus shifted from surgery to medication after the patient stabilized."
A medicine, or all the medicines regularly taken by a patient.
"She packed her bag with enough medication to last through the entire road trip."
In plain English: Medication is any medicine you take to treat an illness or relieve pain.
"She took her medication with a glass of water after dinner."
Usage: Medication refers specifically to drugs used to treat or prevent disease, distinguishing it from general remedies like herbal teas or vitamins unless prescribed. Use this term when discussing formal medical treatments rather than casual self-care substances.
The word medication comes from the Latin verb medicari, meaning "to heal or cure," which was originally used by physicians and surgeons. It entered English through Middle French as a term for the act of treating an illness with medicine.