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

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

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

He won one of the first major wrongful-death trials against pharma company Merck over claims that the prescription anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx caused heart problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The country is continuing to enjoy a windfall from US technology and pharma companies who pay much of their global taxes in Ireland.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

"Chirality is very important in many fields of science -- from pharma to chemistry, biology, and of course, physics and photonics," Mazur said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

These flipped economics have worked well for big pharma players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk who have been cashing in on the market.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026