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

Costco is based in Issaquah, Washington, and operates grocery stores with retail pharmacies across the country. —Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 18 Aug. 2025

The company noted in its second-quarter earnings call this month that compounding pharmacies, which are allowed to make versions of medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration when drugs are in shortage, have affected the sales of its GLP-1 medications. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025

The vaccine is currently unavailable elsewhere due to local pharmacy laws. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Yet insect repellent wasn’t available in pharmacies due to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. —Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 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