nostrum

[nos-truhm]

noun

1. a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value; quack medicine.

2. a pet scheme or remedy, especially for social or political ills; panacea.

   The party was pushing the nostrum of corporate tax reduction, as if that would undo decades of industrial job loss.

3. a medicine made by the person who recommends it.

4. a patent medicine.

nostrum

/ ˈnɒstrəm /

noun

1. a patent or quack medicine

2. a favourite remedy, as for political or social problems

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostrum¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin: literally, “our, ours” (neuter singular of noster ), with a noun such as remedium “remedy, cure” being understood; referring to the seller's calling the drug “our” drug

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostrum¹

C17: from Latin: our own (make), from noster our

Example Sentences

One of the abundance nostrums, making things cheaper through deregulation, is laughable.

From Salon

Kennedy has promoted almost useless nostrums against measles, such as Vitamin A, while describing vaccination as a personal choice.

From Los Angeles Times

He has taken Emerson’s nostrum about consistency being “the hobgoblin of little minds” to its acid-flashback extreme: no consistency, no mind to speak of, but one hell of a hobgoblin.

From Salon

“The FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” he wrote, decrying the agency’s “aggressive suppression” of such worthless anti-COVID nostrums as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

From Los Angeles Times

When asked for specifics about what she would do if elected, she often offers word salads and nostrums about bringing people together.

From Los Angeles Times