pharmacy
FAH-muh-see
Pharmacy (noun) means a shop or department where prescription medicines are prepared and sold. Example: “I need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.”
noun
1
A shop or department where prescription medicines are prepared and sold.
"I need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription."
"The hospital pharmacy is open around the clock."
"The pharmacy on the high street closes at six, so we should hurry."
2
The science and practice of preparing, dispensing, and understanding medicinal drugs.
"She is studying pharmacy at university."
How to use pharmacy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the shop where you get medicine, or the subject of studying how drugs work and are prepared.
UK vs US
British English often says "chemist's" for the shop; American English almost always says "pharmacy" or "drugstore."
Common pairings
local pharmacy
study pharmacy
pharmacy degree
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Word forms
- Plural
- pharmacies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I need to stop by the _____ to pick up my prescription.
Etymology
From Old French pharmacie, based on Greek pharmakeia ("use of drugs"), from pharmakon ("drug, remedy, or poison").
Synonyms
View more →
pharmaceutics
drugstore
chemist
chemist shop
chemist's
dispensary
chemist's shop
druggist's
druggist's shop
apothecary's
apothecary's shop
apothecary
Related words
Rhymes for pharmacy
See all rhymes for pharmacy →Frequently asked questions
What does “pharmacy” mean?
The word “pharmacy” means a shop or department where prescription medicines are prepared and sold. In plain terms, either the shop where you get medicine, or the subject of studying how drugs work and are prepared.
How do you pronounce “pharmacy”?
“Pharmacy” is pronounced FAH-muh-see (/ˈfɑɹməsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “pharmacy” in a sentence?
Here is “pharmacy” used in a sentence: “I need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.”
What is another word for “pharmacy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pharmacy” include drugstore, chemist, chemist shop, chemist's, dispensary and chemist's shop.
What part of speech is “pharmacy”?
“Pharmacy” is a noun.
Where does the word “pharmacy” come from?
The word “pharmacy” comes from Old French. From Old French pharmacie, based on Greek pharmakeia ("use of drugs"), from pharmakon ("drug, remedy, or poison").
Is “pharmacy” a common word?
“Pharmacy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pharmacy” have?
“Pharmacy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shop or department where prescription medicines are prepared and sold.
What is the difference between a pharmacy and a drugstore?
A pharmacy is specifically the shop or department where prescription medicines are prepared and dispensed. "Drugstore" is a chiefly American term for a broader retail shop that contains a pharmacy counter but also sells cosmetics, household goods, and other everyday items.
What is the difference between a pharmacy and a chemist?
They usually refer to the same thing. "Chemist" or "chemist's" is the common British word for a pharmacy, while "pharmacy" is the standard international and American term for the place where medicines are prepared and sold.
Does "pharmacy" refer to a place or a profession?
It can mean both. "Pharmacy" names the shop or hospital department where prescription medicines are prepared and sold, and it also names the science and practice of preparing, dispensing, and understanding medicinal drugs.
What is the difference between a pharmacy and a dispensary?
A dispensary is the point where prepared medicines are handed out, often inside a hospital or clinic. A pharmacy is broader: it both prepares or compounds medicines and sells them, and the word also covers the profession itself.
