pharmacy
Americannoun
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Also called pharmaceutics. the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines.
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a drugstore.
noun
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Also called: pharmaceutics. the practice or art of preparing and dispensing drugs
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a dispensary
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pharmacy
1645–55; earlier pharmacia < Medieval Latin < Greek pharmakeía druggist's work. See pharmaco-, -y 3
Explanation
A pharmacy is where you go when you need to fill a prescription for medicine. Hospitals have pharmacies, but you can also find retail pharmacies in most cities and towns. The technique of making medicine and dispensing it is also known as pharmacy, and people who practice this kind of science are pharmacists. If your doctor diagnoses an infection, it's your friendly neighborhood pharmacist who measures your antibiotics, packages them for you, and instructs you on how much and how often to take them. The Greek root is pharmakeia, which means "medicines or cure," but also "witchcraft, spells, or potions."
Vocabulary lists containing pharmacy
Unit 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Our analysis bridges ancient wisdom and modern science," said Han bixian, the first author of a review on the topic recently published in the Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy.
From Science Daily • Jun. 7, 2026
Over the decades, the ownership changed several times, becoming RG Macaulay's, Herons, Lloyds Pharmacy and, eventually, Gordons Chemists.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
Find insight on Amazon Pharmacy, Sanofi, Sunway Health and more in the latest Market Talks covering the health care sector.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Amazon’s entry into GLP-1 medications is nothing new—in fact, Lilly announced just last week that it would make its Foundayo weight-loss pill available through Amazon Pharmacy along with a handful of telehealth providers.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
The ringing bell on the door of Gardner’s Pharmacy sounded like money disappearing from my pocket.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
