pharmaceutical
adjective
uk/ˌfɑːməˈsjuːtɪkəl/ us/ˌfɑrməˈsuːtɪkəl/connected with the production of medicines:
the pharmaceutical industry
a pharmaceutical company/product/journal
The British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca employs about 5,000 people in the town.
pharmaceutical
noun [ C, usually plural ]
uk/ˌfɑːməˈsjuːtɪkəl/ us/ˌfɑrməˈsuːtɪkəl/a medicine:
Pharmaceuticals account for 10% of the country's non-oil exports.
FINANCE, STOCK MARKET
shares in companies connected with the production of medicines:
Pharmaceuticals rose and airline stocks fell after the outbreak of swine flu.
See also
generic pharmaceuticals