Unit of measure

TBSP medical abbreviation

TBSP means "tablespoon".

On the ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations. ISMP suggests: Use the metric system (mL).

Each meaning matched at least two public references (4 in all for TBSP), checked October 23, 2026. The table lists them.

Run it in Rivvi

Ask what TBSP means in your note

Paste a sig line, a note, or a claim and Rivvi spells out each abbreviation and flags the ones on the Do Not Use list.

Ask Rivvi

Free to start. No card. Opens Rivvi, the AI workspace for healthcare teams.

What TBSP means

Example

Training example of an error-prone entry: "tbsp" on a label.

A made-up line that shows the abbreviation in place. It is not about any patient and is not an instruction.

Related abbreviations

  • TSPteaspoon
  • MLmilliliter
  • OZounce
  • CCchief complaint; cubic centimeter
  • Lliter
  • IUinternational unit

Elsewhere on Rivvi

Questions

What does TBSP mean in medical terms?

TBSP means "tablespoon".

Where is TBSP used?

TBSP shows up in prescriptions and charting. Its category here is unit of measure.

Is TBSP on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list?

No, but ISMP lists TBSP as an error-prone abbreviation. ISMP's suggested practice: Use the metric system (mL).

Source: NCI Thesaurus, including CDISC SDTM terminology (NCI EVS); NLM SPECIALIST Lexicon abbreviations file (LRABR); Army Regulation 40-66, Appendix B: Authorized Medical Records Abbreviations; ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and Dose Designations (2024). Data as of October 23, 2026. Last updated October 23, 2026. How we source data. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

Back to all medical abbreviations

Try it on your own data today.

Free to start. Most teams are using it the same day.