pharmaceutical

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌfɑː.məˈs(j)uː.tɪ.kl̩/, /ˌfɑː.məˈkjuː.tɪ.kl̩/ (UK); /ˌfɑɹ.məˈs(j)u.tɪ.kl̩/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Late Latin pharmaceuticus (“of drugs”) with the English suffix -al,^[2][3][4] from Ancient Greek φαρμακευτικός (pharmakeutikós),^[4][2] from φαρμακεύς (pharmakeús, “preparer of drugs, poisoner”),^[4][2] from φάρμακον (phármakon, “drug”) (see pharmacy).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to pharmacy or the art of preparing drugs: 1648 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1640s in Etymonline;^[6][2][4] Merriam-Webster dates it to 1636.^[3] The shorter pharmaceutic is from the 1540s.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The noun, a medicinal drug, especially in the plural pharmaceuticals, is attested by 1881.^[4][6] The adverb pharmaceutically is from 1770.^[6]

Timeline

• 1540s – pharmaceutic.^[4]
• 1648 – pharmaceutical (adjective).^[6][2]
• 1881 – a medicinal drug.^[6][4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Relating to pharmacy, or to the preparation, use or sale of medicinal drugs.

Noun

1. A medicinal drug or preparation.

Word family

• pharmaceutically
• cosmeceutical
• nutraceutical
• biopharmaceutical
• nonpharmaceutical
• radiopharmaceutical
• pharm

Related words

• pharmacy
• pharmacist
• pharmacology
• pharma

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press