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

At the back of this pharmacy is a beloved restaurant that does New Mexico classics like red-and-green chile enchiladas and huevos rancheros. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026

The telehealth industry, after all, is more or less built on compounding pharmacies; Hims & Hers actually bought its own in 2024. — Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

The Biden administration also blocked their manufacture by compounding pharmacies, which make specialty drugs. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026

Starting today, the Food and Drug Administration is holding a two-day meeting to decide whether compounding pharmacies should be allowed to produce popular injectable peptides. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 July 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