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

• apothecary
• drugstore

Example Sentences

There's a pharmacy in our grocery store now.

She's studying pharmacy at the university.

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers worked with six Rhode Island locations of a specialty pharmacy called Genoa Healthcare. —Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Jan. 2023

According to records at the US Food and Drug Administration, amoxicillin supplies have been low since the end of October, and pharmacy experts say colleagues were struggling with stock-outs from the beginning of that month. —WIRED, 11 Jan. 2023

The pharmacy wasn’t damaged, but the power was out. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023

Months earlier, in April 1991, Rich allegedly broke the store windows of a pharmacy in West Hills. —Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023

In the early ’90s, Rich was arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a West Hills pharmacy and earlier received five years probation after pleading guilty to drunk driving. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2023

He was arrested two years later for breaking and entering into a pharmacy. —Katie Reul, Variety, 8 Jan. 2023

At least one has to be on duty for a pharmacy to operate. —Tom Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023

One of their neighbors is storing medicine for the local pharmacy in their refrigerator with the power from their generator. —Matt Stevens, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2022

See More

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