# apothecary

/əˈpɑθəˌkɛɹi/ (US) · /ɐpˈɒθɪkəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apothecary
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a person who sells medicine

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

someone in the past who made and sold medicine and drugs.

For teachers: a historical practitioner who prepared and sold medicinal drugs and compounds. The term is archaic in modern medical contexts but common in historical literature.

- In the story, the hero visits an apothecary to buy a sleeping potion.
- The local apothecary was highly respected in the village for his knowledge of herbal remedies and chemical tinctures during the seventeenth century.

Usage: Usually refers to the person, but can occasionally refer to the shop itself in older texts.

### 2. a shop for medicine

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old-fashioned shop where you could buy medicine.

For teachers: a pharmacy or drugstore, specifically one from a historical or medieval period.

- The old apothecary on the corner had dusty jars filled with dried herbs.
- The protagonist sought out a dimly lit apothecary in the narrow streets of London to procure the necessary ingredients for his experiment.

## Examples

- The apothecary prepared a special medicine for the sick child.
- In the 18th century, the local apothecary was a central figure in the community, managing both medical and culinary supplies.
- The novel opens in a dimly lit apothecary shop where the protagonist discovers a rare manuscript detailing the alchemical properties of local flora.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.