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

Relevance

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
The next Congress and potential 2028 candidates could outline realistic plans for reducing dependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients, rare earths, and potential future chokepoints. — Ali Wyne, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026 But big pharmaceutical companies have largely abandoned the quest for new antibiotics, because the research and development needed to discover them is time-consuming and expensive. — Zoë Schiffer, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
GLP-1s touch nerve centers of US healthcare politics, from populist fury at big insurers and pharmaceutical companies to worries about government spending and a growing awareness of the toll of chronic illness. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026 The pharmaceutical industry would not exist without the basic biochemistry research done in academic laboratories. — Mattanjah De Vries, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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

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