A placeboA harmless fake treatment used to test whether a real one works. is something that looks like a real treatment but has no activeHaving the power to produce the intended result or change. medical effect. It is commonly used in research to compare against an actual drug, and it is also sometimes given to reassureTo make someone feel less worried or more confident. a patient.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /pləˈsiːboʊ/
Easy pronunciation: pluh-SEE-boh (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: SEE.
Use the noun meaning a fake or inert treatment with no real medical effect.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Placebo Meaning
A fake treatment that has no real medical effect.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: An inert or harmless substance given instead of a real medicine, often in medical testing or to comfort someone.
Example: The trial compared the new painkiller with a placebo.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Placebo
Meaning 2
A church service for the dead.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: In Roman Catholic liturgy, vespers for the office of the dead.
Example: The priest led the placebo at the memorial service.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use placebo to mean any fake or pretend thing, but in standard English it mainly refers to a harmless treatment used in medicine or research.
- It should not be confused with a real drug, because a placebo has no active medicinal ingredient.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does placebo mean?
A placebo is a treatment that has no active medical ingredient. It may be used in medical studies or given to help reassure a patient.
What is a placebo used for?
It is often used in clinical trials to see whether a real medicine works better than no active treatment.
Is a placebo the same as a sugar pill?
Not always, but a sugar pill is a common example of a placebo.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
