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

• 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 list of things Cal must correct after its 42-34 double-overtime loss at Virginia Tech on Friday night probably looks like one of those mile-long CVS pharmacy receipts. —Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025

Doctoral research awards comprise less than 1% of the statewide total, while professional practice awards -- such as in medicine, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, and law -- increased almost 12% year over year. —Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025

Instead, call your healthcare provider or a pharmacy for a replacement bottle or a refund. —Amber Brenza, Health, 24 Oct. 2025

Both offer the option to receive multiple vaccines at once, and the cost of immunization at these pharmacies is covered entirely by most insurance companies. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 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