placebo effect
noun
: improvement in the condition of a patient that occurs in response to treatment but cannot be considered due to the specific treatment used
Examples of placebo effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This, D’Lima notes, could be a placebo effect, as this trial was not placebo-controlled.
—
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Knoepfler warned of placebo effects.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
In other words, what’s likely really happening is a positive placebo effect, the scientists suggested.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
Some are a bit dubious, maintaining that at-home red light therapy tools in general provide more of a placebo effect than actual, measurable results.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for placebo effect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Knoepfler warned of placebo effects.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
In other words, what’s likely really happening is a positive placebo effect, the scientists suggested.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
Some are a bit dubious, maintaining that at-home red light therapy tools in general provide more of a placebo effect than actual, measurable results.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for placebo effect
Cite this Entry
“Placebo effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/placebo%20effect. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
