pharmaceutical

1 of 2

adjective

phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌfär-mə-ˈsü-ti-kəl How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically adverb

pharmaceutical

2 of 2

noun

: a medicinal drug

Example Sentences

Adjective lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry Noun some pharmaceuticals can be quite risky unless taken correctly
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Meanwhile, many of the largest pharmaceutical companies reported that 75% of their profits came from overseas. Ed Silverman, STAT, 11 May 2023 Getty | Drew Angerer The pharmaceutical company behind Martin Shkreli's infamous 4,000 percent price hike—now known as Vyera Pharmaceuticals—filed for bankruptcy this week and plans to sell its assets to pay off millions in debts. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 11 May 2023 This shot was developed by the pharmaceutical company GSK, and a Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women and the elderly is also nearing approval. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 11 May 2023 After a fake account posing as pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly falsely announced insulin was free, Twitter likely lost millions as advertisers pulled back. Sarah Ellison, Washington Post, 11 May 2023 In 2020, pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Moderna reaped the reward of years of coronavirus research, mRNA delivery platforms, and protein stabilization techniques. Kendall Hoyt, Fortune, 11 May 2023 Seventy-two of the studies were funded by pharmaceutical companies. Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 May 2023 The vaccine, made by the pharmaceutical company GSK, is for older adults. Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 3 May 2023 Arthur Sackler purchased the already existing pharmaceutical company Purdue in 1952. Breanna Bell, Variety, 9 May 2023
Noun
The technology has become a central component of genetic research and is used to develop novel pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and biofuels. Byrobert F. Service, science.org, 11 May 2023 Fufeng makes products for animal nutrition, the food and beverage industry, pharmaceuticals, health and wellness, oil and gas, and others industries. Margaret Stafford, Fortune, 5 May 2023 In the United States and Canada, melatonin is regulated as a dietary supplement, not a pharmaceutical, which means it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cathy Cassata, Health, 3 May 2023 Examples of biomanufactured products include pharmaceuticals, textiles, food ingredients, fuel enzymes, cosmeceuticals and more. Melik Demirel, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 It’s supported by about a dozen philanthropic donors, a consortium of 40 biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and tens of thousands of individual donors, and is closing in on 2,000 participants at 51 clinical sites around the globe. Michael J. Fox, STAT, 12 Apr. 2023 Think of all the F.D.A. regulations around the development and delivery of pharmaceuticals. David Marchese David Marchese, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2023 Becky was a lifelong local resident, a high school valedictorian who began her career in pharmaceuticals and then became a nurse in time for the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2023 Love Wellness Mood Pills can be taken regularly without the worry of becoming dependent or having undesirable side effects because they are made to support your body's needs safely and more naturally than some pharmaceuticals have been known to do. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pharmaceutical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin pharmaceuticus, from Greek pharmakeutikos, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs — more at pharmacy

First Known Use

Adjective

1636, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmaceutical was in 1636

Dictionary Entries Near pharmaceutical

Cite this Entry

“Pharmaceutical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmaceutical. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

pharmaceutical

1 of 2 adjective
phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
: of, relating to, or involved in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of medicinal drugs
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically adverb

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 How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
variants also pharmaceutic
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically adverb

pharmaceutical

2 of 2 noun
variants also pharmaceutic
: a medicinal drug
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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