Meaning of the word placebo in English

What does placebo mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

placebo

US /pləˈsiː.boʊ/
UK /pləˈsiː.bəʊ/
"placebo" picture

Noun

a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.

Example:
The patient showed improvement even though he was given a placebo.
In clinical trials, new drugs are often compared against a placebo.