pharmaceuticals

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'pharmaceuticals' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that refers to drugs or medicines that are prepared or used in pharmacy for medical purposes. Example sentence: The pharmaceuticals industry is worth billions of dollars each year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The pharmaceuticals giant Roche has been criticised in unprecedented terms by the government's drugs watchdog for refusing to significantly lower the price of a breast cancer drug whose £90,000-per-patient cost is well over the NHS's limit.

The Guardian

But Roche is perceived by many to be out of line with the rest of the UK pharmaceuticals industry, which is increasingly trying to work with Nice rather than against it.

The Guardian

"With Rudisha's performance, we are consoled," added the 33-year-old, who works for a pharmaceuticals company.

The Guardian - Sport

The worst of it is that Clinton managed to get everyone frothed into a tizzy with a video so unstoppably bland that, the first three times I tried to watch it, I involuntarily tuned out in the mistaken belief that I was watching a pre-roll advert for over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

The Guardian

Many of my Syrian friends, they are working hard – in business, engineering, pharmaceuticals – they want to work.

The Guardian

Government sources said the part-pensioners losing their pension under the budget changes would definitely keep their commonwealth seniors health card, which offers discounts on pharmaceuticals, GP bulk billing and an annual energy supplement.

The Guardian

Manufacturing makes up an important 10% of the economy and the UK's goods are in demand as a rising affluent class of consumers in markets like China and India snap up luxury cars, western foods and pharmaceuticals.

The Guardian - Business

The Republic may still even amid the eurozone crisis be a successful exporter of food, hi-tech goods, pharmaceuticals and computer components but its domestic economy, in particular consumer demand, remains stagnant.

The Guardian

As a result, they have turned resolutely against companies with opaque accounts from American blue chips such as General Electric to Elan, an Irish pharmaceuticals group whose share price halved on February 4th when it confessed to the deleterious effect of some hitherto undisclosed assets on its 2001 earnings.External auditors have come under heavy suspicion.

The Economist

The group includes companies from a wide range of industries including defence, financial services, energy and pharmaceuticals.

The Economist

Companies dislike it, since it eats into their sales in more lucrative markets, and they fear that it will grow when even lower-price markets, such as Poland, join the EU.To ease these worries, the G10 calls for a "derogation" or exemption of new member states from the EU's free trade in pharmaceuticals.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the industry or the science behind drug development, use "pharmaceuticals". When discussing individual treatments or a patient's medication, terms like "medications" or "drugs" may be more appropriate.

Common error

While "pharmaceuticals" can refer to various medications, be specific when discussing particular types of drugs or their effects. Do not use "pharmaceuticals" as a catch-all term that lacks precision.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pharmaceuticals" is as a plural noun. It refers to various drugs or medicinal preparations. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable term in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "pharmaceuticals" is a plural noun widely used to refer to drugs, medications, and the pharmaceutical industry. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently encountered in various contexts, including news, business, and scientific publications. Alternatives such as "medications" or "drugs" may be suitable in specific instances, but "pharmaceuticals" offers a broader, more formal reference. When using this term, remember to be specific when discussing particular types of drugs or their effects to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

medications

This term is a broad synonym, referring to substances used for medical treatment.

drugs

A common and direct synonym, though can sometimes imply recreational use depending on context.

medicines

Similar to "medications", emphasizing healing and therapeutic properties.

prescription drugs

Refers specifically to medications requiring a doctor's authorization.

pharmaceutical products

Highlights the commercial and manufactured aspect of these substances.

therapeutic agents

Emphasizes the healing or curative function of the drugs.

pharmacological preparations

A more technical and formal term for prepared medicines.

chemical compounds

Focuses on the chemical composition of drugs.

drug products

Another way to emphasize that "pharmaceuticals" are manufactured drugs.

ethical drugs

This outdated term refers to drugs that are heavily promoted to doctors.

FAQs

How to use "pharmaceuticals" in a sentence?

"Pharmaceuticals" is a noun, often used to refer to the industry, the products, or a general class of drugs. For example: "The pharmaceuticals industry is heavily regulated."

What can I say instead of "pharmaceuticals"?

You can use alternatives like "medications", "drugs", or "medicines" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "pharmaceuticals" or "pharmaceutics"?

"Pharmaceuticals" refers to the drugs themselves, while "pharmaceutics" is the science of preparing and dispensing drugs.

What's the difference between "pharmaceuticals" and "medications"?

While often interchangeable, "pharmaceuticals" can refer to the industry as a whole, whereas "medications" typically refers to specific drugs used for treatment.