Placebo

usgb/pləˈsiːbəʊ/
noun

A pill or treatment that doesn't contain any active medicine, but the patient believes it does.

The patient was unknowingly given a placebo instead of the actual medicine.
Visual representation of "placebo" - A pill or treatment that doesn't contain any active medicine, but the patient believes it does.

Often appears as...

  • placebo effect
  • placebo treatment

Usage tips

Technical

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "placebo"
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Clinical Trials

Used in experiments to test if a drug works by comparing its effects with a placebo.

Illustration for Clinical Trials
She participated in a study where half the participants received the drug, and the rest took a placebo.
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No Effect Alone

A placebo has no therapeutic effect by itself; its impact is psychological.

Illustration for No Effect Alone
Although the patient felt better, the improvement was due to a placebo, not actual medicine.
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False Belief

The term 'placebo' implies patients believe they're getting real treatment.

Illustration for False Belief
The doctor prescribed a placebo, hoping the belief in treatment would help her recover.
Visual representation of the word "Placebo"

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