placebo
noun
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Doctors doing research on new treatments for disease often give one group a placebo while a second group takes the new medication. Since those in the placebo group usually believe they're getting the real thing, their own hopeful attitude may bring about improvement in their condition. Thus, for the real drug to be considered effective, it must produce even better results than the placebo. Placebos have another use as well. A doctor who suspects that a patient's physical symptoms are psychologically produced may prescribe a placebo in the hope that mentally produced symptoms can also be mentally cured.
Examples of placebo in a Sentence
Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
In the recent trial, participants on the highest 36-milligram dose had about a 2 percent greater risk of a serious adverse event, compared with those given a placebo.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026
In a clinical trial, people who initiated and stayed on the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of about 27 pounds, compared to about 2 pounds on a placebo.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Side effects, mostly gastrointestinal issues, led between 5% and 10% of participants in the orforglipron study to discontinue treatment, compared with nearly 3% in the placebo group.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for placebo
Cite this Entry
“Placebo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/placebo. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
placebo
noun
from Latin placebo "I shall please"
Medical Definition
placebo
noun
