pharma

American  

[fahr-muh] / ˈfɑr mə /

noun

1. a pharmaceutical company or pharmaceutical companies considered collectively.

   He works for pharma.

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

   Pharma is expanding into China, hoping to replace local remedies with manufactured drugs.

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adjective

1. of or relating to pharmaceutical companies or the pharmaceutical industry.

   Pharma reps don't sell directly to doctors.

pharma British  

/ ˈfɑːmə /

noun

1. pharmaceutical companies when considered together as an industry

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Etymology

Origin of pharma

First recorded in 1990–95; short for pharmaceutical

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pharma

He worked for a biotech pharma company in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Instead, some are buying local lettuce if they can afford it and live near growers, according to Ernest Baskin, chair of the food, pharma and healthcare department at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

Find insight on Eli Lilly, Intuitive Surgical, European pharma stocks and more in the latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

In 2015, she pitched a short against Valeant, a then highflying pharma company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

“We do not believe investors have fallen out of love with pharma, it is just that many believe the sector is up with events for now,” the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026