Word
pharmaceutical
Phoneticsphar·ma·ceu·ti·cal, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌfɑɹməˈsutɪkəɫ/
UK/fˌɑːmɐsˈuːtɪkəl/
Definitions
01a medical drug
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a medicine or drug produced by a company.
n. a medicinal drug or compound produced for therapeutic use.
“The doctor explained that this new pharmaceutical would help lower his blood pressure.”
“The hospital pharmacy stocks a wide range of pharmaceuticals, from common antibiotics to specialized treatments for rare genetic conditions.”
Usage
Often used in the plural when referring to the products of the industry.
Synonyms
02relating to medicine
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
adj. relating to the making and selling of medicines.
adj. pertaining to the discovery, development, and manufacture of drugs.
“She works for a large pharmaceutical company in the city center.”
“Recent pharmaceutical breakthroughs have significantly improved the survival rates for patients with previously untreatable viral infections.”
Usage
Usually placed before a noun.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“These will be made available to academics and the pharmaceutical industry to help them bring new drugs to the clinic.” “A source told the Reuters news agency that further measures could go beyond tariffs, for example by suspending pharmaceutical and agricultural patents.” “Between April and June, sectors including computer programming, advertising and the pharmaceutical industry lifted growth.” Etymology
From Latin pharmaceuticus (“of drugs”) + -al, from Ancient Greek φαρμακευτικός (pharmakeutikós, “of or by means of drugs or pharmacy”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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