compassionate use

noun

The semi-official use of a drug that has not yet gained official approval in cases where no other treatment is possible

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Meanings

nouncompassionate use (countable and uncountable, plural compassionate uses)

plural compassionate uses

  1. UScountableuncountableThe semi-official use of a drug that has not yet gained official approval in cases where no other treatment is possible
Cite this entry
APA

compassionate use. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20use

MLA

“compassionate use.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20use. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “compassionate use,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20use.

Source: compassionate use on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.