placebo

[pluh-see-boh, plah-chey-boh] / pləˈsi boʊ, plɑˈtʃeɪ boʊ /

NOUN

fake pill

Synonyms

WEAK

inactive drug inactive medicine inactive substance sugar pill test substance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The trial also demonstrated improvement relative to a placebo.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

A drug also needs to be proven to work better than a placebo.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Participants were assigned to receive either evolocumab injections every two weeks or a placebo.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

About two-thirds received enlicitide, while the rest were given a placebo.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

Twig gladly abandoned her original question—something with food coloring and placebo effects.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller