Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

placebo

noun

/pləˈsiːboʊ/

Definition

A substance or treatment that has no therapeutic effect, often used as a control in testing new drugs.

Examples

The doctor prescribed a placebo to assess the patient’s response to the treatment.
In the trial, half of the participants received the real medication, while the other half received a placebo.
Some patients reported feeling better after taking a placebo, highlighting the power of the mind in healing.

Meaning

Placebo refers to a often inert substance or treatment given to a patient instead of a medication. The goal is to test the effectiveness of a real drug, using the placebo as a comparison.