Placebo

/pləˈsiːboʊ/

Synonyms

  • dummy drug
  • sham treatment
  • sugar pill

Slang Meanings

A fake treatment or solution that is not meant to heal.
He didn't actually give his friend medicine; it was just a placebo.
A term used in wellness circles to describe ineffective remedies.
That herbal tea is just a placebo; it won't really cure anything.