polypharmacy
noun
poly·phar·ma·cy
ˌpä-li-ˈfär-mə-sē 
: the practice of administering many different medicines especially concurrently for the treatment of a single disease
also
: the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient to treat usually coexisting conditions and which may result in adverse drug interactions
Examples of polypharmacy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Yale researchers sought to understand if polypharmacy—when patients take five or more drugs regularly—can be attributed to obesity in individuals aged 65 and older.
—
Amy Anderson,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
And that spending reflects not just more illness, but more layers — multiple chronic conditions, polypharmacy, cognitive decline and the growing need for daily support.
—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Those in the motor disorder group didn’t show any link between polypharmacy and FIM.
—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Another larger issue is polypharmacy, which is the regular use of 5 or more medications at the same time.
—
Sophie Okolo,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
While polypharmacy is most common in older people, younger adults and even children, particularly those with complicated chronic conditions like epilepsy, learning disorders or mental health issues, can also end up on many medications.
—
Knvul Sheikh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2024
Similarly, the use of dimensions as key secondary end points in many different diagnostic categories may lead to pseudospecific indications and polypharmacy.
—
Neuroskeptic,
Discover Magazine,
3 Aug. 2012
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Amy Anderson,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
And that spending reflects not just more illness, but more layers — multiple chronic conditions, polypharmacy, cognitive decline and the growing need for daily support.
—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Those in the motor disorder group didn’t show any link between polypharmacy and FIM.
—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Another larger issue is polypharmacy, which is the regular use of 5 or more medications at the same time.
—
Sophie Okolo,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
While polypharmacy is most common in older people, younger adults and even children, particularly those with complicated chronic conditions like epilepsy, learning disorders or mental health issues, can also end up on many medications.
—
Knvul Sheikh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2024
Similarly, the use of dimensions as key secondary end points in many different diagnostic categories may lead to pseudospecific indications and polypharmacy.
—
Neuroskeptic,
Discover Magazine,
3 Aug. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Polypharmacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polypharmacy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
polypharmacy
noun
poly·phar·ma·cy
-ˈfär-mə-sē
plural polypharmacies
: the practice of administering many different medicines especially concurrently for the treatment of the same disease
also
: the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient to treat usually coexisting conditions and which may result in adverse drug interactions
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