placebo

noun

pla·​ce·​bo plə-ˈsē-(ˌ)bō 

plural placebos

1

a

: a usually pharmacologically inert preparation prescribed more for the mental relief of the patient than for its actual effect on a disorder

b

: an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (such as a drug)

2

: something tending to soothe

Did you know?

Doctors doing research on new treatments for disease often give one group a placebo while a second group takes the new medication. Since those in the placebo group usually believe they're getting the real thing, their own hopeful attitude may bring about improvement in their condition. Thus, for the real drug to be considered effective, it must produce even better results than the placebo. Placebos have another use as well. A doctor who suspects that a patient's physical symptoms are psychologically produced may prescribe a placebo in the hope that mentally produced symptoms can also be mentally cured.

Examples of placebo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Driving the news: Participants who received psilocybin saw their depression symptoms decrease by an average of 21.33 points on a clinical scale, compared to a 9.33-point reduction in the placebo group, according to findings from a clinical trial published Thursday in JAMA Network Open. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024

For example, one study in menopausal women found that a supplement containing valerian essence and lemon balm led to fewer sleep issues, such as night hot flashes, insomnia, and intermittent sleep, compared to the placebo group. —Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 19 Nov. 2024

Another key limitation, Hall and Manson said, was the lack of a true placebo group. —Simon Spichak, Health, 28 Nov. 2024

To be clear – this is not argument for AI as a placebo for human relationships, but rather an encouragement to use it in creative ways that ease the gap between needs and availability. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, I shall please

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing placebo

• placebo effect

Kids Definition

placebo

noun

pla·​ce·​bo plə-ˈsē-bō 

plural placebos

1

: a medicine that usually has no effect on a disease and is prescribed by a doctor for the mental relief it offers a patient

2

something that is meant to soothe

Etymology

from Latin placebo "I shall please"

Medical Definition

placebo

noun

pla·​ce·​bo plə-ˈsē-(ˌ)bō 

plural placebos

1

: a usually pharmacologically inert preparation prescribed more for the mental relief of the patient than for its actual effect on a disorder

2

: an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (as a drug)