Of‐fic″i‐nal (?), a. [F., fr. L. officina a workshop, contr. fr. opificina, fr. opifex a workman; opus work + facere to make or do.] 1. Used in a shop, or belonging to it. Johnson.
2. (Pharm.) Kept in stock by apothecaries; — said of such drugs and medicines as may be obtained without special preparation or compounding; not magistral.
☞ This term is often interchanged with official, but in strict use officinal drugs are not necessarily official. See Official, a., 3.