Word
pharmacology
Phoneticsphar·ma·col·o·gy, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌfɑɹməˈkɑɫədʒi/
UK/fˌɑːmɐkˈɒlədʒi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the scientific study of how drugs and medicines work in the body. It looks at how these chemicals are made and how they help treat illnesses.
n. the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. It encompasses the investigation of chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of pharmaceutical substances.
Examples
“She is studying pharmacology to become a researcher.”
“Advances in pharmacology have led to the development of more effective treatments for chronic heart disease.”
“The research team published a paper in a leading pharmacology journal detailing how the new compound interacts with specific cellular receptors to inhibit viral replication.”
Examples
simple
“She is studying pharmacology to become a researcher.”
contextual
“Advances in pharmacology have led to the development of more effective treatments for chronic heart disease.”
complex
“The research team published a paper in a leading pharmacology journal detailing how the new compound interacts with specific cellular receptors to inhibit viral replication.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the field of study; occasionally countable when referring to the specific drug properties of a substance.
Real-World Examples
“Compounds that had previously been tested only in rodents became fodder for self-experimentation, with bodybuilders posting their experiences and promoting a kind of “folk pharmacology,” Turnock says.” “My father, Alex Ungar, who has died aged 91, was a senior lecturer in pharmacology at Edinburgh University for more than 20 years, and a former editor of the British Journal of Pharmacology.” Etymology
From pharmaco- + -logy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/pharmacology