Big Pharma

American

[big fahr-muh] / ˈbɪg ˈfɑr mə /

Or big pharma

noun

pharmaceutical companies considered collectively, especially with reference to their political and commercial influence.

The article attributes rising medical costs to private healthcare, Big Pharma, and insurance.

Etymology

Origin of Big Pharma

First recorded in 1990–95

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.

It’s early days, but Big Pharma has been racing to own the technology.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Big Pharma is on the prowl for biotech companies, but it’s being stingy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

In the world of Big Pharma, this is unheard of.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

There have been a flurry of acquisitions of biotech names by Big Pharma giants, an easing of worries around threatened drug price reform, and some good news from companies.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

That has won it fans among analysts searching for the next biotech acquisition by Big Pharma.

From Barron's • Dec. 9, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023