pharmacognosy

noun

phar·​ma·​cog·​no·​sy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäg-nə-sē How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
: a branch of pharmacology dealing with medicinal substances of biological origin and especially medicinal substances obtained from plants
pharmacognostic
ˌfär-mə-ˌkäg-ˈnä-stik How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
adjective
or pharmacognostical
ˌfär-mə-ˌkäg-ˈnä-sti-kəl How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek pharmakon + -gnōsia knowledge, from gnōsis — more at gnosis

First Known Use

circa 1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pharmacognosy was circa 1885

Rhymes for pharmacognosy

See All Rhymes for pharmacognosy

Browse Nearby Words

pharmacogenomics
pharmacognosy
pharmacokinetics
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pharmacognosy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacognosy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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Medical Definition

pharmacognosy

noun
phar·​ma·​cog·​no·​sy ˌfär-mə-ˈkäg-nə-sē How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
plural pharmacognosies
: a branch of pharmacology dealing especially with the composition, use, and development of medicinal substances of biological origin and especially medicinal substances obtained from plants
pharmacognostic
-ˌkäg-ˈnäs-tik How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
adjective
or pharmacognostical
-ti-kəl How to pronounce pharmacognosy (audio)
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