【Druggist】 , 【pharmacist】 , 【apothecary】 , 【chemist】 denote one who deals in medicinal drugs.

【Druggist】 is the broadest of these terms and may designate a seller of drugs or medicinal preparations at wholesale or retail and as owner, manager, or employee of the sales establishment; it may often replace the more precise 【pharmacist】  to denote one who is skilled in compounding drugs and dispensing medicines prescribed by a physician especially when he is thought of primarily as selling these.

【Pharmacist】 , however, specifically implies, as 【druggist】 does not, special training in pharmacy, professional standing, and usually licensing following a test of qualifications.

【Apothecary】  in early use was distinguished from 【druggist】 , which then designated one who sold crude drugs (as herbs, roots, and other ingredients of medicines) while  【apothecary】 designated one who compounded these ingredients or made them up into medicines and was, therefore, equivalent to 【pharmacist】 .

The distinction has tended to disappear and 【apothecary】 may be interchangeable with either 【druggist】 or 【pharmacist】 although it is increasingly rare except in historical situations. In England  【chemist】 is the preferred term.