panacea

pan·a·cea

noun \ˌpa-nə-ˈsē-ə\

Definition of PANACEA

: a remedy for all ills or difficulties : cure-all

— pan·a·ce·an \-ˈsē-ən\ adjective

Examples of PANACEA

1. The law will improve the lives of local farmers, but it is no panacea.
2. <a woman who seems to believe that chicken soup is a panacea for nearly everything>

Origin of PANACEA

Latin, from Greek panakeia, from panakēs all-healing, from pan- + akos remedy

First Known Use: 1548

Related to PANACEA

Synonyms: catholicon, elixir, nostrum, cure–all, theriac

Related Words: magic bullet, silver bullet; corrective, cure, remedy; miracle drug, wonder drug

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