noun
dispensary
dihs-PEHN-suh-ree
noun
1
A place, such as part of a hospital or clinic, where medicine or medical supplies are given out.
"The school nurse sent him to the dispensary for a bandage."
2
A licensed shop that sells medical or recreational cannabis and related products.
"She picked up her prescription at the local dispensary."
How to Use Dispensary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA place where medicine (or, in some places, cannabis) is handed out to the public.
UK vs US
In the US, "dispensary" is now widely associated with cannabis shops; in the UK it more often refers to a hospital or clinic pharmacy room.
Common pairings
visit the dispensary
hospital dispensary
cannabis dispensary
Word Forms
dispensaries plural
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Fill the Gap
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The school nurse sent him to the _____ for a bandage.