First Known Use: 1785
Dictionary
placebo
noun pla·ce·bo \plə-ˈsē-(ˌ)bō\
medicine : a pill or substance that is given to a patient like a drug but that has no physical effect on the patient
plural pla·ce·bos
Full Definition of PLACEBO
1
a : a usually pharmacologically inert preparation prescribed more for the mental relief of the patient than for its actual effect on a disorder b : an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (as a drug)
2
: something tending to soothe
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Origin of PLACEBO
Latin, I shall please
Medical Dictionary
placebo
noun pla·ce·bo \plə-ˈsē-(ˌ)bō\
plural pla·ce·bos
Medical Definition of PLACEBO
1
: a usually pharmacologically inert preparation prescribed more for the mental relief of the patient than for its actual effect on a disorder
2
: an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (as a drug)
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