pharmaceutical

1 of 2

adjective

phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌfär-mə-ˈsü-ti-kəl How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
Synonyms of pharmaceuticalnext
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically
ˌfär-mə-ˈsü-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
adverb

pharmaceutical

2 of 2

noun

: a medicinal drug

Synonyms of pharmaceutical

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Noun

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Examples of pharmaceutical in a Sentence

Adjective lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry Noun some pharmaceuticals can be quite risky unless taken correctly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
India is one of the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world, exporting to over 190 countries. — Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Some of those creative approaches for systems range from complex pharmaceutical reimbursement calculations to new efforts to keep patients insured. — Daniel Payne, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
Any engineer or chemist employed in tech or pharmaceuticals could sell to the highest bidder the details of last month’s drug discovery or next year’s phone models. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Jim pointed out that other sectors, such as software, pharmaceuticals, banks, and energy stocks, are faring better than stocks tied to the data center buildout. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pharmaceutical

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin pharmaceuticus, from Greek pharmakeutikos, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs — more at pharmacy

First Known Use

Adjective

1636, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmaceutical was in 1636

Rhymes for pharmaceutical

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Browse Nearby Words

pharma
pharmaceutical
pharmaceutical chemist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pharmaceutical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmaceutical. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pharmaceutical

1 of 2 adjective
phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
: of, relating to, or involved in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of medicinal drugs
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
adverb

pharmaceutical

2 of 2 noun
: a drug or preparation used in medicine

Medical Definition

pharmaceutical

1 of 2 adjective
phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
variants also pharmaceutic
-ˈsüt-ik How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals
a pharmaceutical company
pharmaceutically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pharmaceutical (audio)
adverb

pharmaceutical

2 of 2 noun
variants also pharmaceutic
: a medicinal drug

More from Merriam-Webster on pharmaceutical

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pharmaceutical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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