pharmacy
Americannoun
plural
pharmacies-
Also called pharmaceutics. the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines.
-
a drugstore.
noun
-
Also called: pharmaceutics. the practice or art of preparing and dispensing drugs
-
a dispensary
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
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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.
Noom just purchased a pharmacy that already makes some of them.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Eli Lilly launched its daily weight-loss pill, Foundayo, through pharmacies and telehealth, including its own online pharmacy.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
The agency would have to solicit public comment and an advisory committee of health and pharmacy experts would have to review the FDA’s research.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
"Hopefully this will drive additional consumer awareness of the drivers of the high costs of medication," said Michael Murphy, a professor of clinical pharmacy at Ohio State University.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
In his pocket were several prescriptions to be left at the pharmacy.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
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.
