nocebo

[ noh-see-boh ]

noun
  1. an inactive substance or a real medication that produces unpleasant or worsening symptoms in a patient or research participant because the person expects negative effects. : Compare placebo (def. 1).

  2. a negative symptom experienced by a person with such expectations.

Origin of nocebo

1
1960–65; Latin nocēbō “I shall be harmful”; patterned after placebo

Words Nearby nocebo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nocebo in a sentence