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

Colorado's program specifically targets employment gaps with specialized courses in healthcare (including behavioral healthcare, MRI technology, and pharmacy tech roles), construction, manufacturing, engineering, STEM, aerospace, and education. —Alison Griffin, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Likewise, his plan to crack down on pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, in the interest of reducing pharmaceutical costs for consumers has the right goal in mind. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025

Free screenings provided by UC San Diego pharmacy students representing the American Pharmacists Association. —La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

In 13 states, pharmacists at the local pharmacy may also be able to test for flu and prescribe medications, according to Amy Lynn Safaty, PharmD, a pharmacy district leader for CVS Pharmacy in Hauppauge, NY. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 15 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