ETYM Old Eng. fermacie, Old Fren. farmacie, pharmacie, French pharmacie, Greek, from pharmakos medicine, poison.
The preparation and dispensing of drugs; as an area of study, pharmacy includes an understanding of the origins, nature, and action of drugs. The place where a pharmacist dispenses drugs is also referred to as a pharmacy.
The art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines; SYN. pharmaceutics.