panacea

¹

[pan-uh-see-uh]

noun

1. a remedy for all disease or ills.

   Synonyms: cure-all, nostrum, elixir

2. an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties.

   His economic philosophy is a good one, but he tries to use it as a panacea.

   Synonyms: cure-all, nostrum, elixir

Panacea

²

[pan-uh-see-uh]

noun

1. an ancient Greek goddess of healing.

panacea

/ ˌpænəˈsɪə /

noun

1. a remedy for all diseases or ills

Other Word Forms

• panacean adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of panacea¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin, from Greek panákeia, equivalent to panake-, stem of panakḗs “all-healing” ( pan- “all” + akḗs “a cure”) + -ia noun suffix; pan-, -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of panacea¹

C16: via Latin from Greek panakeia healing everything, from pan all + akēs remedy

Example Sentences

Yet he adds that it won't be "the panacea" that cures an Argentine economy that has long battled high inflation and public spending, and defaulting on its national debt.

Read more on BBC

Shifting reporting regulations to reduce costs while allowing shareholders and companies greater flexibility to determine appropriate frequency of reporting isn’t a panacea.

Read more on Barron's

A good leader knows when to open the floor and when to move fast, rather than treating cognitive diversity as a panacea.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It’s the furthest thing from a panacea,” Murphy said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Polynucleotides as a treatment is not the panacea. There are plenty of other treatments out there that can do similar, and have more data behind them."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• elixir