drugstore
gb/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ/ us/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
store selling medicine and toiletries
a shop where you can buy medicine and health products
Usage pattern:
at/in [a/the] drugstore
Common mistake:
In British English, pharmacy or chemist’s is more common; drugstore is especially American.
Synonyms
pharmacy (More general; can be a store focused mainly on prescriptions.)
|
chemist's (Common in British English for a similar store.)
Collocations
go to the drugstore
|stop by the drugstore
|the local drugstore
|a neighborhood drugstore
|a chain drugstore
|a drugstore aisle
|a drugstore clerk
|a drugstore receipt
|drugstore hours
|drugstore prices
Themes
shopping
|health
|daily_life
|business
Examples
- I’m going to the drugstore to pick up my prescription.
- The drugstore on Main Street is open 24 hours.
- She grabbed shampoo and bandages at the drugstore.
Learner examples
- I went to the drugstore for medicine.
- The drugstore is near my house.
Noun
B2
entity
2
pharmacy department in a store
the place in a drugstore where you get prescriptions
Usage pattern:
at the drugstore (pharmacy)
Common mistake:
In many sentences, drugstore refers to the whole store; for the specific counter/area, speakers often say the pharmacy.
Synonyms
pharmacy (The most common word for the prescription area.)
Collocations
the drugstore pharmacy
|the drugstore counter
|ask at the drugstore
|drop off a prescription
|pick up a prescription
|talk to the pharmacist
|the pharmacy window
|the prescription line
Themes
health
|shopping
Examples
- The drugstore was crowded, but the pharmacy line moved quickly.
- Ask at the drugstore if this cold medicine is safe with your prescription.
- He dropped off the prescription at the drugstore and came back later.
Learner examples
- I will pick up my prescription at the drugstore.
adjective
B2
property
3
inexpensive, widely available product
cheap and easy to buy in a drugstore
Usage pattern:
drugstore [product]
Common mistake:
This use is most natural before a noun (drugstore shampoo), not after it (the shampoo is drugstore).
Synonyms
budget (Emphasizes low price, not necessarily where it is sold.)
|
mass-market (Emphasizes wide distribution rather than price.)
Antonyms
high-end (Opposite in price and typical retail setting.)
|
luxury (Opposite in exclusivity and cost.)
Collocations
drugstore makeup
|drugstore cosmetics
|drugstore shampoo
|drugstore skincare
|drugstore perfume
|drugstore moisturizer
|drugstore mascara
|drugstore cleanser
|drugstore hair dye
|drugstore sunscreen
Themes
shopping
|beauty
|consumer_goods
Examples
- She prefers drugstore makeup because it’s affordable and easy to replace.
- This is a drugstore cleanser, but it works as well as pricier ones.
- He bought a drugstore moisturizer for travel.
Learner examples
- I bought drugstore shampoo.
Grammar
Dictionary form
drugstore
IPA
GB/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ/
US/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
drug - store (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (drug)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: drugstore
- Plural: drugstores
Word family
Forms
drugstores
noun
Core family
drug
noun A2
Related words
Advanced or less common
pharmaceutical
adjective C1
Expressions
corner drugstore
1/kˈɔɹnɚ dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ/
fixed phrase
small neighborhood drugstore
a small drugstore near where you live
Examples
- I ran down to the corner drugstore to buy painkillers.
- There used to be a corner drugstore on this block.
- She picked up toothpaste at the corner drugstore.
drugstore aisle
1/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ ˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
store aisle for drugstore items
the part of a store with medicine and toiletries
Examples
- You’ll find it in the drugstore aisle next to the toothpaste.
- He waited in the drugstore aisle while she chose shampoo.
- The drugstore aisle was out of cold medicine.
drugstore brand
1/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ bɹˈænd/
fixed phrase
mass-market affordable brand
a cheap brand you can buy in a drugstore
Examples
- I switched to a drugstore brand of sunscreen and saved a lot.
- That’s a drugstore brand, but the quality is good.
- She reviewed her favorite drugstore brands online.
drugstore chain
1/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ t͡ʃˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
company with many drugstores
a company with many drugstores
Examples
- A major drugstore chain is opening a new location downtown.
- The drugstore chain announced it will close several stores.
- He works for a drugstore chain as a pharmacist.
drugstore makeup
1/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ mˈeɪkˌʌp/
fixed phrase
affordable makeup sold in drugstores
cheap makeup you can buy in a drugstore
Examples
- Her video compares drugstore makeup to luxury makeup.
- I only buy drugstore makeup for everyday wear.
- This foundation looks expensive, but it’s drugstore makeup.
drugstore skincare
1/dɹˈʌɡstˌɔɹ skˈɪŋkˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
affordable skincare sold in drugstores
cheap skin products you can buy in a drugstore
Examples
- Drugstore skincare has improved a lot in recent years.
- He asked for drugstore skincare recommendations for sensitive skin.
- This serum is from a drugstore skincare line.