pharmacology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, Medical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “pharmacology” mean?
The branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action, including the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action, including the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs.
The scientific study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function, encompassing drug discovery, development, and understanding of mechanisms at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Minor variations in related terms: 'clinical pharmacology' is standard in both, but US may more frequently use 'drug discovery' as an adjacent field label.
Connotations
Highly technical, research-oriented field in both varieties. In UK, historically stronger ties to physiology departments; in US, often closely linked to pharmaceutical industry R&D.
Frequency
Equally common in academic/medical contexts. Rare in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “pharmacology” in a Sentence
specialise in pharmacologyresearch in pharmacologya degree in pharmacologythe pharmacology of [drug name]advances in pharmacologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pharmacology” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- She took a first in pharmacology at Oxford.
- The lecture covered the fundamental principles of pharmacology.
American English
- He majored in pharmacology at Johns Hopkins.
- The new findings could reshape our understanding of cardiac pharmacology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in biotech/pharma contexts: 'Our investment in pharmacology research has yielded two new candidates.'
Academic
Standard in life sciences/medicine: 'The journal publishes original research in pharmacology and physiology.'
Everyday
Very rare. Possibly: 'My daughter is studying pharmacology at university.'
Technical
Precise use in research papers, drug labels, regulatory documents: 'The pharmacology of the compound was characterized in murine models.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pharmacology”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pharmacology”
- Confusing with 'pharmacy'. Using as a synonym for 'medication'. Incorrect: 'I need to pick up my pharmacology.' Correct: 'I need to pick up my prescription.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Pharmacology is the science of drug action on biological systems. Pharmacy is the health profession concerned with the preparation, dispensing, and appropriate use of medicines.
No. Many pharmacologists hold PhDs in pharmacology, biochemistry, or related life sciences, though medical training (MD) is common in clinical pharmacology.
Primarily, but it also studies any exogenous chemical's effect on a living system, including toxins, recreational drugs, and natural products.
Key branches include clinical pharmacology (effects in humans), neuropharmacology (nervous system), pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug), and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body).
The branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action, including the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs.
Pharmacology is usually academic, medical, scientific in register.
Pharmacology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɑːməˈkɒlədʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɑːrməˈkɑːlədʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PHARMA (like pharmaceutical) + -OLOGY (study of) = the study of pharmaceutical drugs.
Conceptual Metaphor
Pharmacology is a map of interactions (drugs as keys, biological systems as locks).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the primary focus of pharmacology?