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 of pharmacy

• 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

The employee, 35-year-old Shelbi Wolken of Wheat Ridge, allegedly used the patients' information to pick up the patients' prescriptions at the hospital's in-house pharmacy herself. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

Cochems has also needed the help, especially because his wife was recently laid off from her job as a pharmacy technician. —Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026

From the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum documenting the history of pharmacies, drugstores and medical media, to the Boomerang Diner, visitors will see history and present day communing with each other. —Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026

The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

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