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

Hospital drug purchases with 340B discounts grew from $5 billion in 2010 to $66 billion in 2023 as the network of contract pharmacy arrangements tied to the program expanded exponentially. —Katy Johnson, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026

Boxes of medication are seen on the shelves of the Keencare pharmacy, a member of the Green Light Group, on September 19, 2024 in London, England. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026

Doctors’ offices and pharmacists may also know practical ways to save money, such as using a different pharmacy, switching to mail order or adjusting how a prescription is written. —Deidre Popovich, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026

Again, pharmacy and manufacturer coupons and offers can significantly lower the price, and the cost can be as low as $25 a month with insurance. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 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