phar·ma·col·o·gy
ˌfär-mə-ˈkä-lə-jē 
1
: the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their therapeutic value
phar·ma·co·logical
variants
or pharmacologic
: of, relating to, or determined by pharmacology
pharmacological action
pharmacological methods
Examples of pharmacology in a Sentence
Noun
We don't have a complete understanding of the new drug's pharmacology yet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Driven by expectation, context and social cues rather than pharmacology, the placebo effect is often dismissed as all in the mind.
—Phil Starks, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Future doctors at some medical schools are learning more than anatomy, pathology and pharmacology these days.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Read more from her on medical libertarianism, powerful podcast bros, folk pharmacology, and more.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pharmacology
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Caudalie beauty brand was the brainchild of daughter Mathilde and her husband Bertrand Thomas, who learned from a Bordeaux pharmacology professor about the potential health benefits of the grape skins thrown away by wineries.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Driven by expectation, context and social cues rather than pharmacology, the placebo effect is often dismissed as all in the mind.
—Phil Starks, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Future doctors at some medical schools are learning more than anatomy, pathology and pharmacology these days.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Read more from her on medical libertarianism, powerful podcast bros, folk pharmacology, and more.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pharmacology
Cite this Entry
“Pharmacology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacology. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pharmacology
noun
phar·ma·col·o·gy
ˌfär-mə-ˈkäl-ə-jē
1
: the study of drugs, their composition, effects, and use in medicine
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their medical value
Medical Definition
pharmacology
noun
phar·ma·col·o·gy
ˌfär-mə-ˈkäl-ə-jē
plural pharmacologies
1
: the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their therapeutic value
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
