pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs

2

a

: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed

b

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2

Synonyms

• apothecary
• drugstore

Examples of pharmacy in a Sentence

There's a pharmacy in our grocery store now.

She's studying pharmacy at the university.

Recent Examples on the Web

But sales in the company’s retail pharmacy segment missed Wall Street’s expectations for the quarter, according to StreetAccount. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 1 May 2025

The clinic offers preventative care, diagnostic services, surgical services, dental care and an on-site pharmacy. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025

Hospitals are integrating robotic automation in pharmacy management and supply chain logistics, improving medication dispensing accuracy and ensuring consistent inventory flow. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Compounding pharmacies have filed suit to keep being able to produce those versions. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin pharmacia administration of drugs, from Greek pharmakeia, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs, from pharmakon magic charm, poison, drug

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing drugs according to a doctor's prescription

2

a

: a place where medicines are made or distributed

b

: drugstore

Medical Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

plural pharmacies

1

: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs

2

a

: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed

a hospital pharmacy

b

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2