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

Trump has supported our effort, finding common ground with me and Grassley to help American patients afford their medications at the pharmacy counter. —Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025

If no appointments are available, an urgent care center or a health clinic located in some pharmacies might be another option. —Heidi Cope, Health, 26 Jan. 2025

On the way out, lean your head over the pharmacy counter and say hi to Harrel’s grandson, pharmacist Nick Harrel III, who heads the operation today. —Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025

The second reform is to ensure the rebates reach patients at the pharmacy counter, which could be achieved by reviving Trump’s previous proposal or through other policies, Ubl said. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 26 Jan. 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