placebo effect

American  

[pluh-see-boh] / pləˈsi boʊ /

noun

1. a reaction to a placebo manifested by a lessening of symptoms or the production of anticipated side effects.

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placebo effect British  

noun

1. med a positive therapeutic effect claimed by a patient after receiving a placebo believed by him to be an active drug See control group

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Etymology

Origin of placebo effect

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

People swear by it, but a lot of these things have a placebo effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

The placebo effect might also be at work.

From The Wall Street Journal

Only 15% of people with major depression experienced a substantial benefit from taking antidepressants beyond the placebo effect of pills that look like real medication, a 2022 study found.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The placebo effect can also be very powerful, especially for treatments that require significant effort and cost.”

From Los Angeles Times

Food and Drug Administration, which found that the impact of antidepressants was not much greater than the placebo effect.

From Salon