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

Online retailer Chewy has also broadened into pharmacy subscriptions and veterinary clinics. — Elsa Ohlen,carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026

Oral rehydration solutions, which are sold in most pharmacies, and liquids that contain salts and sugars — like broths, apple juice and electrolyte solutions like Gatorade — are the best bet for keeping your fluids up. — Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

So much so that on July 23rd and 24th, an FDA advisory committee will meet in White Oak, Maryland, to discuss whether a select handful of peptides can be legally produced by compounding pharmacies. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Some pharmacists have had patients come in seeking TrumpRx prices, says Ronna Hauser, the senior vice president of policy and pharmacy affairs for the National Community Pharmacists Association. — Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 16 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