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

Then generic versions of drugs go through a Food and Drug Administration approval process and eventually to pharmacy shelves. —Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026

At the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the pharmacy, every household. —CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Unions representing more than 4,000 Kaiser Permanente pharmacy workers, lab technicians and other workers across Southern and Central California announced the ratification of a new four-year contract Saturday, ending a dispute that included a three-day strike earlier this year. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026

The unions representing over 4,000 Kaiser Permanente pharmacy workers, lab technicians and other workers across Southern and Central California announced the ratification of a new four-year contract today, ending a dispute that included a three-day strike earlier this year. —City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 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