psychopharmacology

noun

psy·​cho·​phar·​ma·​col·​o·​gy ˌsī-kō-ˌfär-mə-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce psychopharmacology (audio)
: the study of the effect of drugs on the mind and behavior
psychopharmacological adjective
or less commonly psychopharmacologic
psychopharmacologist noun

Examples of psychopharmacology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
About the Author Richard A. Friedman is a professor of clinical psychiatry and the director of the psychopharmacology clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College. Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2024 And psychopharmacology has pervaded the lives of even the highest-functioning city-dwellers. Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2024 Dr James Rucker, a consultant psychiatrist and senior clinical lecturer in mood disorders and psychopharmacology at King’s College London, has been working on similar studies in the UK. Sarah Sinclair, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 If, as your book argues, when psychedelics came to play a role in hedonism and countercultural values in the ’60s and ’70s, this was the end of an era rather than a new beginning — how does that illuminate our current era of psychopharmacology? David Lipset, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for psychopharmacology 

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychopharmacology was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near psychopharmacology

Cite this Entry

“Psychopharmacology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychopharmacology. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

psychopharmacology

noun
psy·​cho·​phar·​ma·​col·​o·​gy ˌsī-kō-ˌfär-mə-ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce psychopharmacology (audio)
plural psychopharmacologies
: the study of the effect of drugs on the mind and behavior

More from Merriam-Webster on psychopharmacology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!