pharmacy
B1Neutral to formal in professional contexts; common in everyday usage.
Definition
Meaning
A place where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold; the science and practice of preparing and dispensing drugs.
The profession of a pharmacist; the department in a hospital responsible for preparing and dispensing drugs; a retail business licensed to sell prescription medications.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the physical location (shop/department) or the field of study/profession. In US English, often interchangeable with 'drugstore' for the retail aspect, though 'drugstore' may also sell non-medical items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'pharmacy' is the standard term for a shop dispensing medicines; 'chemist' is a common informal synonym. In the US, 'pharmacy' is standard; 'drugstore' is common for a retail outlet that includes a pharmacy. The profession is 'pharmacist' in both, but UK also uses 'chemist' informally for the person.
Connotations
UK 'pharmacy' may sound slightly more formal or precise than 'chemist'. US 'pharmacy' strongly connotes the prescription-dispensing function within a broader 'drugstore'.
Frequency
In the UK, 'chemist' is very frequent in casual speech. In the US, 'pharmacy' is dominant for the dispensary function, though 'drugstore' is common for the retail establishment.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
at/in the pharmacypharmacy for (something)pharmacy on (street)pharmacy that dispensespharmacy run byVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The pharmacy chain announced a merger with a healthcare provider.
Academic
She is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the university.
Everyday
I need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.
Technical
The hospital's pharmacy department uses robotic dispensing systems to minimize errors.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The new pharmacy on High Street offers a vaccination service.
- He studied pharmacy at the University of London.
American English
- The pharmacy inside the supermarket is open until 10 PM.
- She works in the hospital's inpatient pharmacy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The pharmacy is next to the supermarket.
- I got medicine from the pharmacy.
- You should take this prescription to the pharmacy to get it filled.
- She wants to be a pharmacy assistant.
- Regulations governing the operation of a community pharmacy are quite stringent.
- The role of clinical pharmacy in patient care is increasingly important.
- Pharmacogenomics is revolutionizing personalized medicine by tailoring drug therapies in advanced pharmacy practice.
- The ethics of medicinal cannabis distribution through licensed pharmacies is a contentious issue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FAR more see' – you see many people at the pharmacy getting help.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PHARMACY IS A SOURCE OF HEALTH/REMEDY (e.g., 'the pharmacy of nature').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'аптека' (apteka) which maps directly. The profession is 'фармацевт' (farmatsevt) or 'провизор' (provizor), not a direct cognate of 'pharmacist'. 'Фармация' (farmatsiya) is the science, similar to 'pharmacy' as a field.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pharmaceutical' as a noun to mean the shop (correct: 'pharmaceutical company'). Confusing 'pharmacy' (place/profession) with 'pharmacology' (study of drug action). Misspelling as 'farmacy'. Using 'at pharmacy' instead of 'at the pharmacy'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pharmacy' used to refer primarily to the academic discipline?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a place (e.g., 'three pharmacies in town'). As an uncountable science/profession (e.g., 'study pharmacy').
'Pharmacy' is the place or the field of study. 'Pharmacist' is the qualified professional who works there.
It's understood but marked as American. 'Chemist' or 'pharmacy' is standard in the UK.
A pharmacy that specially prepares (compounds) personalized medications, rather than only dispensing mass-produced ones.
Collections
Part of a collection
Places in the City
A1 · 50 words · Common buildings and places found in towns and cities.
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.
Explore