1. An innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
   "The patients who received the placebo reported no significant improvement"
    
2. Anything of no direct medical benefit which nevertheless makes people feel better or benefit psychologically
   "The sugar pill acted as a placebo, improving the patient's symptoms through the power of belief"
    
3. (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead
   "The placebo service was held in memory of the deceased parishioners"; "Attending placebo was a way for the community to honour their departed"

Derived forms: placebos

Type of: med [informal], medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine, vesper

Encyclopedia: Placebo