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

All Publix pharmacies, however, are closed on New Year's Day. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

Walgreens lists some of its pharmacies as closed on New Year's Day, except for 24-hour locations and other select pharmacies. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024

In July, Australia prohibited the sale of vapes outside of pharmacies. —Bruce Gil, Quartz, 30 Dec. 2024

That means patients will likely be unable to access compounded — or cheaper, off-brand — versions of the drug that compounding pharmacies were legally allowed to make during the shortage. —Michele Luhn, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024

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