Definition

Abbreviation for 'nil per os' (nothing by mouth), meaning you're forbidden from eating or drinking anything—usually before surgery, though it feels like medieval punishment.

Example Usage

The pre-op nurse reminded me three times that I was NPO after midnight, as if my rumbling stomach wasn't reminder enough.

Origin

From Latin 'nil per os,' literally 'nothing through the mouth'

Fun Fact

NPO is one of the most commonly misunderstood orders; patients frequently interpret it as 'nothing solid' and sneak water, potentially delaying their procedures.

Source: Standard medical abbreviation used in hospital orders

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