pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

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

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2

Synonyms

• drugstore

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

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

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

Kids Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

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

: drugstore

Medical Definition

pharmacy

noun

phar·​ma·​cy ˈfär-mə-sē 

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

: drugstore

3

: pharmacopoeia sense 2