pharmacopoeia

noun

phar·​ma·​co·​poe·​ia ˌfär-mə-kə-ˈpē-ə 

variants or pharmacopeia

1

: a book describing drugs, chemicals, and medicinal preparations

especially : one issued by an officially recognized authority and serving as a standard

2

: a collection or stock of drugs

pharmacopoeial adjective

or pharmacopeial

ˌfär-mə-kə-ˈpē-əl 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But cannabis is also mentioned in the pen-ts’ao ching, the world’s oldest pharmacopoeia, which was compiled from Chinese oral traditions dating back to 2700 B.C. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2016

Later, the pharmacopoeia expanded to include large and complex proteins—from insulin to monoclonal antibodies. —Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 15 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Greek pharmakopoiia preparation of drugs, from Greek pharmako- + poiein to make — more at poet

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pharmacopoeia

noun

phar·​ma·​co·​poe·​ia

variants also pharmacopeia

ˌfär-mə-kə-ˈpē-(y)ə 

1

: a book describing drugs, chemicals, and preparations used in medicine

2

: a collection or stock of medicinal drugs

Medical Definition

pharmacopoeia

noun

phar·​ma·​co·​poe·​ia

variants or pharmacopeia

ˌfär-mə-kə-ˈpē-(y)ə 

1

: a book describing drugs, chemicals, and medicinal preparations

especially : one issued by an officially recognized authority and serving as a standard compare dispensatory sense 1

2

: a collection or stock of drugs

pharmacopoeial adjective

or pharmacopeial

-(y)əl