placebo
Say it: pluh-SEE-boh /pləˈsiːbəʊ/ · noun
What “placebo” means
A treatment without an active ingredient that may still help.
More precisely: A fake treatment with no active ingredient that can still help because people expect it to.
When to use it
In medical research or careful everyday discussion, for an inactive treatment whose perceived benefits can involve expectations and treatment context.
Memory trick
Latin placebo means I shall please: remember the helpful expectation around an inactive treatment.
Similar words
dummy pill, sham treatment
Where it comes from
Latin, 'I shall please'.
Quick check
A volunteer receives an inactive tablet but feels less discomfort because they expect the treatment to help. What did they receive?
a placebo or a painkiller?
Show the answer
a placebo
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