What does pharmacology mean?
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and how they affect living organisms, especially humans. It examines a medicine’s composition, the biological mechanisms through which it works, its benefits and side effects, and the conditions it may be used to treat. Pharmacologists work in laboratories, hospitals, universities, and the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to the development, evaluation, and safe use of medicines. The discipline is closely connected with pharmacy, but the two are not identical: pharmacy focuses on preparing and providing medicines, whereas pharmacology focuses on understanding their actions and effects. The word is most common in medical and academic contexts, where it denotes a field of scientific knowledge rather than a single treatment or drug.
nounThe branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs, their composition, mechanisms of action, effects on the body, and therapeutic uses. The term can also refer to the body of knowledge about the use and effects of medicinal substances.
- The branch of medical science that studies drugs, their properties, mechanisms of action, effects, and therapeutic uses.
- The organized body of knowledge concerning the use and effects of medicinal substances.
"The course in pharmacology examines how medicines interact with the human body."
"Researchers in pharmacology are developing a drug that targets cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue."
"Her training in pharmacology gave her a detailed understanding of how antibiotics work."
The plural is uncommon; it is generally used when referring to different systems or traditions of pharmacological study.
"The conference brought together pharmacologies from several different research traditions."
Pharmacology asks what a medicine does, how the body responds, and whether its benefits outweigh its risks.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pharmacology come from?
Pharmacology combines the Greek noun pharmakon, meaning “drug” or “poison,” with the suffix -logia, meaning “study of” or “science of.” The same Greek root appears in related English words such as pharmacy, pharmacist, and pharmaceutical, all of which concern medicines or their preparation and use. The compound entered English in the modern scientific period and became established as the name for the systematic study of drugs.
Related word forms
How pharmacology is actually used
The word is formal and academic. It usually refers to a scientific discipline or field of study, rather than to the practical work of dispensing medicines.
Easily confused with pharmacology
Pharmacology is the scientific study of drugs and their effects, whereas pharmacy is the practice of preparing, dispensing, and providing medicines.