pharmacy - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
pharmacy Word Meanings
- a place where medicinal drugs are dispensed
- the science of preparing and dispensing medications
- a department of a hospital dealing with pharmacy
pharmacy Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
pharmacy Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈfɑː.mə.si/
US
/ˈfɑr.mə.si/
pharmacy Word Etymology
pharmacy = pharmakon (Greek for 'drug') + -cy (state of being). Origin: Greek → Latin → Old French → English. Imagine a wise herbalist brewing potions in a sunlit room filled with fragrant herbs and ancient texts on healing.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I push open the door and step into the pharmacy, the cool air brushing my face. I move down the aisles, labels shifting as I search for a familiar bottle. I hold my decision steady, set my pace, and place the item on the counter as I ask the pharmacist. The moment changes from a simple purchase to a small act of care I repeat when someone needs help.
Real Context
Pharmacy is both a place and a field of study centered on medicines. In everyday use, a pharmacy is a licensed shop where pharmacists dispense prescription drugs, advise patients on how to take them, and sell over-the-counter remedies. The term also describes the science of preparing, compounding, and dispensing medications, including knowledge of drug interactions, dosages, and pharmacology. In hospitals, the pharmacy department coordinates medication therapy, manages inventory, and ensures safety during administration. Etymologically, pharmacy comes from Greek pharmakon for drug and -cy, evolving through Latin and Old French into English. Visualize a sunlit room full of bottles, labels, and a careful herbalist-like expert who helps people stay well.
Usage Reminders
- Use pharmacy for the place, the science, or a hospital department.
- Pronounce as FAR-muh-see with the first-stressed syllable.
- Differentiate from drugstore or chemist by region.
- Pharmacist refers to the person; pharmacy refers to the place or field.
- Common phrases: go to the pharmacy, work in a pharmacy, hospital pharmacy.
Common Misconceptions
- Pharmacy = a shop; it's also a science and a hospital department.
- Pharmacist and pharmacy are the same thing.
- Pharmacology and pharmacy are the same field.
- All medicines require a prescription (OTC meds are never found in a pharmacy).
- Drugstore and pharmacy mean exactly the same thing everywhere.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: pharmacy can mean a shop, a field of study, or a hospital department; learners often mix it with drugstore or pharmacology.
Learning Tips
- Remember three meanings: shop, science, and hospital department.
- Differentiate pharmacy from drugstore and chemist by region.
- Pronounce it as FAR-muh-see with the first syllable stressed.
- The person is a pharmacist; the place is the pharmacy.
- Use phrases: go to the pharmacy, work in a pharmacy, hospital pharmacy.
- Link related words: pharmacist, pharmacology, pharmaceutical, pharmacy student.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'pharmacy'?
A.A place to buy clothes
B.A place to buy medicine
C.A place to buy groceries
D.A place to buy electronics
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is the word 'pharmacy' used correctly?
A.I need to go to the pharmacy to get a new phone.
B.The pharmacy is closed on Sundays.
C.My mom works at a pharmacy as a pharmacist.
D.The pharmacy is hosting a music concert.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'pharmacy'?
A.Hospital
B.Library
C.Supermarket
D.Drugstore
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is an opposite of 'pharmacy'?
A.Medicine
B.Healthy
C.Sickness
D.Wellness
Step 5: Mastery
How would you use the word 'pharmacy' in a real-life situation?
A.Discussing where to buy food
B.Planning a trip to the park
C.Talking about where to get medication
D.Sharing a recipe for cake
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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