# dispensary

/ˈdɪspɛnˌsɛɹi/ (US) · /dɪspˈɛnsəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dispensary
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a place where medicine is prepared and given out to people. You often find these in hospitals, clinics, or specialized shops.

For teachers: a room or facility where medicines and medical supplies are prepared and distributed. Often refers to a specific department within a hospital or a licensed retail outlet for controlled substances.

## Examples

- The nurse went to the dispensary to collect the patient's medicine.
- After the doctor wrote the prescription, I had to wait at the hospital dispensary for twenty minutes.
- Modern healthcare facilities often automate the dispensary process to reduce human error and ensure that high-potency medications are tracked with absolute precision from storage to patient.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in British English to refer to the pharmacy section of a clinic; in North American English, it increasingly refers to legal cannabis outlets.

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