Utilizing lignocellulosic biomass to derive carbonaceous materials have gained an upsurge of interest owing to the inexhaustible availability of precursor. Meanwhile, the carbons prepared from biomass/biowaste are bestowed with excellent textural features such as high specific surface, well-developed pore size distribution and enriched surface chemistry. Considering the tunable porosity and surface composition, lignocellulosic biomass- derived porous carbons are being used as high performing adsorbent materials. In this regard, pharmaceuticals are the emerging micropollutants entering the water bodies as effluents from pharmaceutical industries, hospitals and households. In the literature, review articles on removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater by biomass- derived carbons, are scarce. Therefore, this review article is intended to systematically insight the synthesis of porous carbons from lignocellulosic biomass and their potential application as pharmaceutical adsorbent. Moreover this study summarized the recent research results on pharmaceutical adsorption, the mechanisms of adsorption, regeneration of spent sorbents and cost analysis. Further, the key knowledge gaps are highlighted as current challenges and new directions are proposed for future research work. Therefore, we believe this review article will be a great help to the scientific community to further drive their research efforts for clean and sustainable environment.