pharmacology

noun

phar·​ma·​col·​o·​gy ˌfär-mə-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce pharmacology (audio)
1
: the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their therapeutic value
pharmacological adjective
or less commonly pharmacologic
pharmacologically adverb
pharmacologist noun

Examples of pharmacology in a Sentence

We don't have a complete understanding of the new drug's pharmacology yet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In general, your body does a good job of transporting toxins (i.e., substances that may be harmful to your health) to your kidneys where they’re broken down and excreted from your body, says Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Korin Miller, Flow Space, 29 Apr. 2025 Its defining characteristics include fair competition and the stimulation of high-tech enterprises actively engaged in R&D (in the fields of pharmacology, biotechnology, IT, etc.). Olena Orliuk, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Before the era of antiseptics and pharmacology, people used to routinely die from something as simple as an infected wound, and our woodland crew has certainly traveled back in time in that regard. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025 That’s why French Pharmacy went to work establishing themselves as an authentic French pharmacology store in the USA. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pharmacology

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmacology was in 1698

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Cite this Entry

“Pharmacology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacology. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pharmacology

noun
phar·​ma·​col·​o·​gy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce pharmacology (audio)
1
: the study of drugs, their composition, effects, and use in medicine
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their medical value
pharmacological adjective
also pharmacologic
pharmacologically adverb

Medical Definition

pharmacology

noun
phar·​ma·​col·​o·​gy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce pharmacology (audio)
plural pharmacologies
1
: the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology
2
: the properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their therapeutic value
pharmacological adjective
also pharmacologic
pharmacologically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pharmacology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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