drugstore
B1Neutral, common in everyday American English. Less frequent in formal or medical contexts where 'pharmacy' is preferred.
Definition
Meaning
A retail store where medicines and pharmaceutical products are dispensed and sold, alongside other consumer goods like cosmetics, snacks, and household items.
In American usage, a convenience-oriented retail pharmacy that often includes a soda fountain or small café; historically a social hub. Represents a distinctly American commercial and cultural concept.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an American term. In British and Commonwealth English, the equivalent is 'chemist' or 'pharmacy'. The term emphasizes the retail, consumer-facing aspect rather than the purely medical dispensing function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
American English: Standard term for a retail pharmacy selling medicine and sundries. British English: Not used; the terms 'chemist', 'chemist's', or 'pharmacy' are standard.
Connotations
American: Conveys nostalgia, convenience, and community (e.g., a 1950s drugstore with a soda fountain). British: The word is recognized but marks the speaker as using American English.
Frequency
High frequency in American English; very low to zero frequency in British English outside discussions of American culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
go to (the) ~buy [product] at/from (the) ~work at (a/the) ~the ~ on [street name]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drugstore cowboy: A person who dresses like a cowboy but has no real ranch experience; a poser or braggart.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the retail sector, e.g., 'The drugstore chain reported strong quarterly earnings.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical, cultural, or marketing studies discussing American consumerism.
Everyday
Common, e.g., 'I need to pick up my prescription and some shampoo at the drugstore.'
Technical
Not used in medical/clinical contexts. 'Pharmacy' is the technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. Not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A. Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A.
American English
- N/A.
adjective
British English
- N/A. Attributive use rare; 'drugstore products' would be called 'chemist's own brands' or similar.
American English
- He bought some cheap drugstore sunglasses. (i.e., inexpensive, mass-market)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The drugstore is next to the supermarket.
- I need to go to the drugstore for some toothpaste.
- Can you pick up my prescription from the drugstore on your way home?
- Most drugstores in the US are open until late.
- The historic drugstore on Main Street still has its original soda fountain.
- Unlike a pure pharmacy, a modern American drugstore sells everything from greeting cards to snacks.
- The rise of chain drugstores has profoundly impacted independent community pharmacies and the retail landscape.
- The term 'drugstore cowboy' metaphorically extends from the cultural image of the American pharmacy as a social gathering point.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a store for drugs (medicines). In the US, it's a store, in the UK, it's a chemist.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCE IS HEALTHCARE / THE MARKETPLACE IS A COMMUNITY HUB (historic).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'наркотический магазин' (narcotics shop). It is an аптека (apteka) or pharmacy.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'drugstore' in the UK expecting to be understood for a chemist. *'I'll pop into the drugstore for some plasters.' (UK: incorrect)
- Pronouncing it with a hard /g/ as in 'drug' (illegal substance). The /g/ is soft as in 'big'.
- Confusing 'drugstore' with a 'dispensary' which is often part of a medical facility.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key cultural connotation of a classic American 'drugstore'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, yes, but 'drugstore' emphasizes the retail store aspect selling a wider range of goods. 'Pharmacy' can refer specifically to the counter or department inside the store where medicines are dispensed.
It is not used and will sound distinctly American. Use 'chemist', 'chemist's', or 'pharmacy' instead.
It's an idiom for someone who adopts the attire and mannerisms of a cowboy without having any authentic experience, implying they are all show. It originates from people who would loiter around drugstores dressed fashionably.
No. In this context, 'drug' refers strictly to medicinal drugs or pharmaceuticals. The association with illegal substances is a separate, modern meaning of the word 'drug'.