pharmacopoeia

noun

phar·​ma·​co·​poe·​ia ˌfär-mə-kə-ˈpē-ə How to pronounce pharmacopoeia (audio)
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

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

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pharmacopoeia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmacopoeia was in 1618

Dictionary Entries Near pharmacopoeia

Cite this Entry

“Pharmacopoeia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacopoeia. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

pharmacopoeia

noun
phar·​ma·​co·​poe·​ia
variants also pharmacopeia
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
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

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