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

Considering the bevy of smooth gams that donned them for the show, picking up a bottle of Nair at the pharmacy may also be recommended for the full effect. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

The pharmacies, in turn, sold them to patients with private or government insurance plans, such as Medicare for senior citizens. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025

Location data: Visits to clinics, pharmacies, or addiction recovery centers. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025

These copycat injections, often made by compounding pharmacies without FDA approval, became a lifeline for many who couldn’t access or afford the name-brand drugs. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 24 June 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