# pharmaceutical

/ˌfɑɹməˈsutɪkəɫ/ (US) · /fˌɑːmɐsˈuːtɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pharmaceutical
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a medical drug

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a medicine or drug produced by a company.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. relating to medicine

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to the making and selling of medicines.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.