English Lexicon

Placebo

/pləˈsiː.boʊ/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A substance with no therapeutic effect, often used as a control in testing new drugs.

    "In the clinical trial, half of the participants received the actual medication while the other half were given a placebo."
  2. 2

    A treatment or medication that is not intended to have a physical effect but may provide psychological benefits.

    "The doctor prescribed a placebo to help ease the patient's anxiety about the procedure."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin verb placēre, meaning 'to please', originally used in the Vulgate Bible in Psalm 114:9 ('Placebo Domino in regione vivorum'). In the late 18th century, the term transitioned into medical terminology to denote a harmless substance prescribed more to mollify the patient than for its medicinal effect.

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