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

The archdiocese’s audit also revealed that Storey charged $11,687 on the church credit card for pharmacy prescriptions, medical appointments, eyewear, dental and weight-loss expenses, the affidavit said. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026

Its current fleet of approximately 200 electric vehicles is used by customers including GE Appliances and Swedish online pharmacy company Apotea. —Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 10 June 2026

Amanda Alvear, a 25-year-old Valencia College student and pharmacy tech, was a happy and outgoing young woman who in high school was an honors student, junior class president and prom queen. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 June 2026

The ruling also banned filling a prescription for mifepristone at a retail pharmacy. —Amy Hagstrom Miller, Washington Post, 9 June 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