pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs

2

a

: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed

b

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2

Synonyms

• apothecary
• drugstore

Examples of pharmacy in a Sentence

There's a pharmacy in our grocery store now.

She's studying pharmacy at the university.

Recent Examples on the Web

The French pharmacy is an equally enticing reason to travel across the pond. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025

Window closing on discount weight-loss drugs Many Americans have turned to compounding pharmacies to get popular weight-loss drugs, due to lack of availability or expensive retail price tags. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025

In response, the Outsourcing Facilities Association, a compounding pharmacy trade group, filed a lawsuit against the FDA. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 28 Feb. 2025

Krome has a medical facility with doctors and a pharmacy on site for check ups and medications. —Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin pharmacia administration of drugs, from Greek pharmakeia, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs, from pharmakon magic charm, poison, drug

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing drugs according to a doctor's prescription

2

a

: a place where medicines are made or distributed

b

: drugstore

Medical Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs

2

a

: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed

a hospital pharmacy

b

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2