Meaning & Definition of Placebo in English
Placebo
A substance with no therapeutic effect, often used as a control in experiments.
Pronunciation:
/pləˈsiːboʊ/Part of Speech:
nounPlural:
placebosDetailed Definitions
Definition: A substance that has no pharmacological effect but is given to a patient as if it were a drug.
Example Sentence: The doctor prescribed a placebo to help test the effectiveness of the new medication.
Definition: Any treatment that has no active therapeutic effect, often used to compare with active treatments.
Example Sentence: In the study, half of the participants received a placebo while the other half received the actual medication.
Etymology
Origin: From Latin placebo, meaning 'I shall please'.
Synonyms
Common Phrases and Expressions
- placebo effect: The phenomenon in which a patient experiences a perceived improvement in condition due to believing they are being treated.
- placebo group: A group of participants in an experiment that receives a placebo instead of the experimental treatment.
Translations
- Spanish: placebo
- French: placebo
- German: Placebo
- Russian: плацебо
Related Words
- nocebo: A substance that causes harmful effects due to the patient's negative expectations.
- treatment: The management and care of a patient to combat disease or injury.
Slang Meanings of placebo
Meaning: A fake treatment or solution that is not meant to heal.
Example Sentence: He didn't actually give his friend medicine; it was just a placebo.
Meaning: A term used in wellness circles to describe ineffective remedies.
Example Sentence: That herbal tea is just a placebo; it won't really cure anything.