noun

dosage

/ˈdoʊsɪdʒ/ · say it: DOH·sij

the prescribed amount and frequency of a medicine

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (noun) the amount of medicine or drug that a person should take at one time or regularly

2. (noun) the amount of a substance that a person is exposed to or receives

Examples

1. The doctor prescribed a dosage of 500 mg twice a day.
2. Workers were concerned about their dosage of harmful chemicals in the factory.

How to use dosage

Dosage refers specifically to the measured amount of a drug or medication given at intervals, or the total amount of exposure to a substance. It is slightly more formal than the shorter term 'dose' and is commonly used in medical, pharmaceutical, and scientific contexts. Dosage emphasizes the regulated or calculated aspect, whereas dose can refer to a single instance of taking medicine.

Common phrases

recommended dosage
prescribed dosage
dosage instructions
correct dosage
daily dosage

Synonyms

dose · amount · quantity · portion

Word family

dose (noun/verb) · dosing (gerund) · dosed (past tense)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse dosage with dose, using them interchangeably; however, dosage refers to the regimen or schedule (e.g., 'take this dosage three times daily'), while dose refers to a single amount (e.g., 'take one dose').

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