placebo
0 synonyms and 0 antonyms for placebo, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A harmless substance given as if it were medicine, with no real active ingredient.
We haven't recorded synonyms for placebo yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.
How to use placebo
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin placebo, "I will please," originally a line from a church prayer, later adopted into medicine for a "pleasing" but medically inactive treatment.
Full origin of placebo →Frequently asked questions
What does “placebo” mean?
The word “placebo” means a harmless substance given as if it were medicine, with no real active ingredient. In plain terms, a fake treatment used in medical trials to compare against the real drug, or more generally, something that works only because people believe it will.
How do you pronounce “placebo”?
“Placebo” is pronounced pluh-SEE-boh (/pləˈsi.boʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “placebo” in a sentence?
Here is “placebo” used in a sentence: “Half the trial participants received the real drug and half got a placebo.”
What part of speech is “placebo”?
“Placebo” is a noun.
Where does the word “placebo” come from?
The word “placebo” comes from Latin. From Latin placebo, "I will please," originally a line from a church prayer, later adopted into medicine for a "pleasing" but medically inactive treatment.
Is “placebo” a common word?
“Placebo” is an uncommon word in modern English.