pharmacy

From Middle English pharmacy, borrowed from Middle French pharmacie, from Old French farmacie, from Medieval Latin pharmacia, from Ancient Greek φαρμακεία (pharmakeía, “the use of drugs”), from φάρμακον (phármakon, “a drug, charm, enchantment”), of uncertain but likely Pre-Greek origin.

Attested since late 14th century.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɑɹməsi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɑːməsi/

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pharmacy (countable and uncountable, plural pharmacies)

1. (countable) A place where prescription drugs are dispensed; a dispensary.
2. (uncountable) The science of medicinal substances comprising pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry and forensics.
3. (uncountable) The occupation of a pharmacist.

• pharmacist
• pharmacology

• apothecary
• chemist
• drugstore

• pharmacy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• pharmacy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• pharmacy at OneLook Dictionary Search