phar·ma·ceu·ti·cal
ˌfär-mə-ˈsü-ti-kəl 
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
: a medicinal drug
Examples of pharmaceutical in a Sentence
Adjective
lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry
Noun
some pharmaceuticals can be quite risky unless taken correctly
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The United States leads the world in pharmaceutical innovation.
—Richard L. Jackson, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The drop in imports was largely fueled by pharmaceuticals — many drug companies frontloaded shipments in September after Trump threatened high tariffs, a reflection of the swings in global trade that defined 2025.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pharmaceutical
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Adjective
In 2024, Indiana resumed executions after a nearly 15-year pause because pharmaceutical companies were hesitant to sell the drugs for executions amid growing public scrutiny, said Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor Jody Madeira.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The United States leads the world in pharmaceutical innovation.
—Richard L. Jackson, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The drop in imports was largely fueled by pharmaceuticals — many drug companies frontloaded shipments in September after Trump threatened high tariffs, a reflection of the swings in global trade that defined 2025.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pharmaceutical
Cite this Entry
“Pharmaceutical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmaceutical. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pharmaceutical
1 of 2 adjective
phar·ma·ceu·ti·cal
ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl
: of, relating to, or involved in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of medicinal drugs
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutical
2 of 2 noun
: a drug or preparation used in medicine
Medical Definition
pharmaceutical
1 of 2 adjective
phar·ma·ceu·ti·cal
ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl
variants
also pharmaceutic
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutical
2 of 2 noun
variants
also pharmaceutic
: a medicinal drug
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