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Short answer: a syringe without a needle is still called a syringe. In U.S. federal regulation the syringe is defined as a calibrated barrel and a movable plunger, and the needle is a separate device that attaches to it. This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: clinic staff, buyers and students who need the right term for a syringe supplied without a needle, or who are mixing it up with a needle-free injector.
What is a syringe without a needle called?
It is called a syringe. There is no separate everyday name for a syringe that has no needle fitted. Under 21 CFR 880.5860, a piston syringe “consists of a calibrated hollow barrel and a movable plunger,” with a male connector (nozzle) at one end “for fitting the female connector (hub) of a hypodermic single lumen needle.” The needle is a distinct device, so a syringe supplied without one is simply a syringe with an open nozzle.
People often describe it with a qualifier instead of a new name: “needleless syringe,” “syringe only,” “syringe without needle,” or a name based on its tip or use. The tip names are covered in our guide to syringe tip types.
What do you call a syringe without a needle?
Use “syringe” plus whatever detail matters for the job: the barrel volume, the tip type, and whether it is sterile and single-use. For a general explanation of the device, see what is a syringe. Syringes sold in quantity without needles are discussed in bulk syringes.
Syringe versus needle-free injector
The one device that is genuinely different from a needle-less syringe is the needle-free jet injector. It is easy to confuse the two because both can be used without a needle in the usual sense. The federal definitions show the difference.
| Device | How it is defined (21 CFR) | Regulatory class |
|---|---|---|
| Piston syringe (880.5860) | Calibrated hollow barrel and movable plunger; the nozzle fits the hub of a hypodermic needle; used to inject fluids into, or withdraw fluids from, the body. | Class II (performance standards) |
| Nonelectrically powered fluid injector (880.5430) | A nonelectrically powered device used by a health care provider to give a hypodermic injection by means of a narrow, high velocity jet of fluid that can penetrate the surface of the skin; may be used for mass inoculations. | Class II (performance standards) |
In short, a syringe holds and moves fluid and normally pairs with a needle or another connector. A jet injector replaces the needle with a fluid jet and is a different product class, used by a health care provider.
Names of syringes by tip and use
Syringe names usually come from the tip (for example Luer lock or slip tip) or from the job (for example insulin or oral syringes). Rather than repeating tip details here, read syringe tip types, and for a female-side connector see female Luer lock. Brand names are not syringe types: when you order, specify the tip type and the standard the product meets instead of relying on a brand.
What to specify when ordering a syringe without a needle
These are the details that describe the product itself; each follows from the definition above.
- Tip type: the nozzle must match the hub or connector it will be used with, which is the fit the regulation describes.
- Barrel volume: syringes are calibrated, so state the capacity you need.
- Intended use: injection or withdrawal of fluid, as in the regulation, versus a non-injection use such as an ear bulb syringe.
- Whether a needle is required: if the product must accept a hypodermic needle, say so; the nozzle is designed for it.
Safe use and handling basics
The CDC’s injection safety guidance for health care providers states: “One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time.” It also says to use a new sterile syringe and needle for each patient, that once used the syringe and needle are both contaminated and must be discarded, and not to administer medications from the same syringe to more than one patient, even if the needle is changed.
The rule applies to the syringe itself. A syringe without a needle is not exempt from single-patient use because the needle is absent or has been swapped. For disposal containers, see FDA-cleared sharps containers.
Common mistakes
- Searching for a special name when the correct term is simply “syringe.”
- Treating a needle-free jet injector as if it were a syringe without a needle; the regulation defines them as different devices.
- Reusing a syringe on another patient after changing the needle, which the CDC says not to do.
FAQ
What is a syringe without a needle called?
A syringe. The needle is a separate component that fits the syringe nozzle, so removing or omitting it does not change the device’s name.
What do you call a syringe without a needle?
Call it a syringe, and add the tip type and volume if you need to be specific. “Needleless syringe” is a common descriptive phrase, not a separate regulatory category.
Is a needle-free injector the same thing?
No. 21 CFR 880.5430 describes a separate device that delivers a high velocity jet of fluid through the skin.
Can the same syringe be used for more than one patient if the needle is changed?
No. The CDC says not to administer medications from the same syringe to more than one patient, even if the needle is changed.
Sources
- eCFR, 21 CFR 880.5860 Piston syringe, checked 2026-11-02: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-880.5860
- eCFR, 21 CFR 880.5430 Nonelectrically powered fluid injector, checked 2026-11-02: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-880.5430
- CDC, Injection Safety for health care providers, checked 2026-11-02: https://www.cdc.gov/injection-safety/hcp/clinical-safety/index.html
