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

Sam's Club also will close for the holiday, as will its pharmacies. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Nov. 2025

Most store pharmacies, such as Fry's Food Store, will also be closed. —Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 22 Nov. 2025

Cramer suggested some investors are concerned about Realty Income’s tenant base, including retail pharmacy Walgreens, which plans to close many stores over the next few years. —Julie Coleman, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025

In some states, the CDC’s recommendations also affect whether pharmacies can administer vaccines. —Elizabeth Lanphier, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 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