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

The drugmaker plans full integration of the AI technology by year-end, joining a trend of pharma companies adopting AI.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Not long ago, pharma companies were swinging for the fences and massive deals made up the bulk of transactional dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

The pharma giant’s recent strength is tied to a shift in investor sentiment, as the company pivots toward higher-growth business segments.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

As South Korea and the EU have negotiated 15% pharma tariffs with the U.S.,

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The company is looking at expanding its manufacturing footprint in the U.S., the head of its pharma unit said, turning to the world’s largest drug market to drive a turnaround.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026