pharmaceutical
n. countablen. a medicine or drug that is made by a company to treat an illness. These are usually products created by the medical industry rather than natural remedies.
n. a medicinal drug or compound manufactured for use in medical treatment. Often used in the plural to refer to the products of the medical industry collectively.
The doctor prescribed a new pharmaceutical for her condition.
The company invests billions of dollars every year into the research and development of new pharmaceuticals.
Regulatory bodies must rigorously evaluate every new pharmaceutical to ensure that its therapeutic benefits outweigh any potential side effects before it reaches the public market.
From Latin pharmaceuticus (“of drugs”) + -al, from Ancient Greek φαρμακευτικός (pharmakeutikós, “of or by means of drugs or pharmacy”).
Frequently used in the plural form ('pharmaceuticals') when discussing the industry or a range of products.