Definition of dispensary

The word "dispensary" originally referred to a place where a person in authority, such as a bishop or royal physician, dispensed religious or medical advice and remedies as needed. The term gained wider use during the Elizabethan era when apothecaries, who sold medicinal substances, began operating out of official dispensaries. In the 19th century, the term "dispensary" transformed to describe a health center, often maintained by charitable organizations, that provided free or low-cost medical care and medicines to the poor. Today, the term "dispensary" is commonly used to describe a facility where prescription medications are dispensed, particularly in a pharmacy or medical setting.