pharmacognosy

noun

phar·​ma·​cog·​no·​sy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäg-nə-sē How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
: a branch of pharmacology dealing with medicinal substances of biological origin and especially medicinal substances obtained from plants
pharmacognostic adjective
or pharmacognostical

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek pharmakon + -gnōsia knowledge, from gnōsis — more at gnosis

First Known Use

circa 1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmacognosy was circa 1885

Dictionary Entries Near pharmacognosy

Cite this Entry

“Pharmacognosy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacognosy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

pharmacognosy

noun
phar·​ma·​cog·​no·​sy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäg-nə-sē How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
plural pharmacognosies
: a branch of pharmacology dealing especially with the composition, use, and development of medicinal substances of biological origin and especially medicinal substances obtained from plants
pharmacognostic adjective
or pharmacognostical
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