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 of pharmacy

• 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

Smaller, independent pharmacies may still have your brand in stock. —Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 22 Apr. 2026

Viatris said retailers such as pharmacies have been provided with instructions on how to return the pills. —Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2026

Shares of the retail pharmacy chain and health insurer have slipped 2% this year, but analyst Brian Tanquilut’s $98 target implies upside of nearly 28%. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026

There’s little fuel for ambulances, doctors and nurses are unable to commute to work, and pharmacy shelves are bare. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026

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