pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē How to pronounce pharmacy (audio)
plural pharmacies
1
: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs
2
a
: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed
b
3

Examples of pharmacy in a Sentence

There's a pharmacy in our grocery store now. She's studying pharmacy at the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Cops responding to a 911 call about a knifepoint robbery in progress outside a corner pharmacy in Floral Park came across the suspect fleeing on the e-bike about 8 p.m. Saturday, police said. John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025 The improvement in mood, the feeling of accomplishment and self-efficacy that comes with living a healthy lifestyle are not sold in a pharmacy. arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025 The following locations are affected: The pharmacy at 6442 N. 76th St. in Milwaukee closed on July 1. Sofia Joseph, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025 The three largest PBMs—Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx—are each integrated with a major pharmacy and together control nearly 80% of U.S. prescriptions. Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pharmacy

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin pharmacia administration of drugs, from Greek pharmakeia, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs, from pharmakon magic charm, poison, drug

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmacy was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pharmacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pharmacy

noun
phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē How to pronounce pharmacy (audio)
plural pharmacies
1
: the art, practice, or profession of preparing drugs according to a doctor's prescription
2
a
: a place where medicines are made or distributed
b

Medical Definition

pharmacy

noun
phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē How to pronounce pharmacy (audio)
plural pharmacies
1
: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs
2
a
: a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed
a hospital pharmacy
b
3

More from Merriam-Webster on pharmacy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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