# pharmacology

/ˌfɑɹməˈkɑɫədʒi/ (US) · /fˌɑːmɐkˈɒlədʒi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

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

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the field of study; occasionally countable when referring to the specific drug properties of a substance.

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