English

pharmacy

gb/fˈɑɹməsi/ us/fˈɑɹməsi/
A2 English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun A2 entity
1

Store selling medicines

A store where you can buy medicine and health products.

Usage pattern: to go to [a pharmacy]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'pharmacy' (the place) with 'pharmacist' (the person who works there).
Synonyms
drugstore (Common in American English; often also sells general goods.) | chemist (Used in British English for a store that sells medicines.)
Collocations
local pharmacy |online pharmacy |community pharmacy |chain pharmacy |pharmacy counter
Themes
health |shopping |daily life |daily_life
Examples
  • I need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.
  • There’s a 24-hour pharmacy near the hospital.
  • She works at a small community pharmacy downtown.
  • Many people now use an online pharmacy for convenience.
  • The pharmacy was out of the medication I needed.
Learner examples
  • I go to the pharmacy to get my pills.
  • The pharmacy is next to the bank.
  • My father works in a pharmacy.
  • I buy vitamins from the pharmacy.
Noun B1 entity
2

Science of preparing medicines

The study or work of making and giving medicine.

Common mistake:
Sometimes confused with 'pharmaceuticals' (the drugs themselves).
Synonyms
pharmaceutics (More technical term used in academic contexts for the science of drug formulation.)
Collocations
study pharmacy |pharmacy degree |pharmacy school |pharmacy profession
Themes
health |science
Examples
  • She decided to study pharmacy at university.
  • Pharmacy has advanced greatly with modern technology.
  • He has a degree in pharmacy and works at a hospital.
  • Pharmacy requires knowledge of chemistry and biology.
Learner examples
  • I want to study pharmacy.
  • My sister works in pharmacy.
  • Pharmacy is about making medicine.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pharmacy
IPA
GB/fˈɑɹməsi/
US/fˈɑɹməsi/
Syllables & stress
phar - macy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (phar)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: pharmacy
  • Plural: pharmacies, pharmacy
Word family
Forms
pharmacies noun
Core family
pharmacist noun B1 pharmaceutical adjective C1
Related words
pharmacology noun C1 pharmacologist noun
Expressions

pharmacy counter

1
/fˈɑɹməsi kˈaʊntɚ/
fixed phrase

Counter for selling medicine

The place in a store where you get medicine or give a prescription.

Examples
  • You can drop off your prescription at the pharmacy counter.
  • Please wait for your name to be called at the pharmacy counter.

pharmacy school

1
/fˈɑɹməsi skˈul/
fixed phrase

School for pharmacist training

A school where people learn how to be pharmacists.

Examples
  • He applied to three different pharmacy schools.
  • Pharmacy school usually takes four years to complete.

pharmacy technician

1
/fˈɑɹməsi tɛknˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase

Person assisting pharmacists

A person who helps a pharmacist prepare and give medicine to people.

Examples
  • The pharmacy technician prepared the prescription for the pharmacist to check.
  • She is training to become a pharmacy technician.

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