An innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug.

Roget 933: flattery, adulation, gloze; blandishment, blandiloquence^†; cajolery; fawning, wheedling etc. v.; captation^†, coquetry, obsequiousness, sycophancy, flunkeyism^†, toadeating^†, tuft-hunting; snobbishness.    incense, honeyed words, flummery; bunkum, buncombe; blarney, placebo, butter; soft soap, soft sawder^†; rose water.    voice of the charmer, mouth honor; lip homage; euphemism; unctuousness etc. adj.. ... show more

Roget 662: remedy, help, cure, redress; medicine, medicament; diagnosis, medical examination; medical treatment; surgery; preventive medicine.    [medical devices] clinical thermometer, stethoscope, X-ray machine.    anthelmintic [Med.]; antidote, antifebrile [Med.], antipoison^†, counterpoison^†, antitoxin, antispasmodic; bracer, faith cure, placebo; helminthagogue^†, lithagogue^†, pick-meup, stimulant, tonic; vermifuge, prophylactic, corrective, restorative; sedative etc. 174; palliative; febrifuge; alterant^†, alterative; specific; antiseptic, emetic, analgesic, pain-killer, antitussive [Med.], antiinflammatory [Med.], antibiotic, antiviral [Med.], antifungal [Med.], carminative; Nepenthe, Mithridate.    cure, treatment, regimen; radical cure, perfect cure, certain cure; sovereign remedy.    examination, diagnosis, diagnostics; analysis, urinalysis, biopsy, radiology.    medicine, physic, Galenicals^†, simples, drug, pharmaceutical, prescription, potion, draught, dose, pill, bolus, injection, infusion, drip, suppository, electuary^†; linctus^†, lincture^†; medicament; pharmacon^†.    nostrum, receipt, recipe, prescription; catholicon^†, panacea, elixir, elixir vitae, philosopher's stone; balm, balsam, cordial, theriac^†, ptisan^†.    agueweed^†, arnica, benzoin, bitartrate of potash, boneset^†, calomel, catnip, cinchona, cream of tartar, Epsom salts [Chem]; feverroot^†, feverwort; friar's balsam, Indian sage; ipecac, ipecacuanha; jonquil, mercurous chloride, Peruvian bark; quinine, quinquina^†; sassafras, yarrow.    salve, ointment, cerate, oil, lenitive, lotion, cosmetic; plaster; epithem^†, embrocation^†, liniment, cataplasm^†, sinapism^†, arquebusade^†, traumatic, vulnerary, pepastic^†, poultice, collyrium^†, depilatory; emplastrum^†; eyewater^†, vesicant, vesicatory [Med.].    compress, pledget^†; bandage etc. (support) 215.    treatment, medical treatment, regimen; dietary, dietetics; vis medicatrix^†, vis medicatrix naturae [Lat.]; medecine expectante [Fr.]; bloodletting, bleeding, venesection [Med.], phlebotomy, cupping, sanguisae, leeches; operation, surgical operation; transfusion, infusion, intravenous infusion, catheter, feeding tube; prevention, preventative medicine, immunization, inoculation, vaccination, vaccine, shot, booster, gamma globulin.    pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceutics; pharmacopoeia, formulary; acology^†, Materia Medica [Lat.], therapeutics, posology^†; homeopathy, allopathy^†, heteropathy [Med.], osteopathy, hydropathy [Med.]; cold water cure; dietetics; surgery, chirurgery [Med.], chirurgy^†; healing art, leechcraft^†; orthopedics, orthopedy^†, orthopraxy^†; pediatrics; dentistry, midwifery, obstetrics, gynecology; tocology^†; sarcology^†.    hospital, infirmary; pesthouse^†, lazarhouse^†; lazaretto; lock hospital; maison de sante [Fr.]; ambulance.    dispensary; dispensatory^†, drug store, pharmacy, apothecary, druggist, chemist.    Hotel des Invalides; sanatorium, spa, pump room, well; hospice; Red Cross.    doctor, physician, surgeon; medical practitioner, general practitioner, specialist; medical attendant, apothecary, druggist; leech; osteopath, osteopathist^†; optometrist, ophthalmologist; internist, oncologist, gastroenterologist; epidemiologist [Med.], public health specialist; dermatologist; podiatrist; witch doctor, shaman, faith healer, quack, exorcist; Aesculapius^†, Hippocrates, Galen; accoucheur [Fr.], accoucheuse [Fr.], midwife, oculist, aurist^†; operator; nurse, registered nurse, practical nurse, monthly nurse, sister; nurse's aide, candystriper; dresser; bonesetter; pharmaceutist^†, pharmacist, druggist, chemist, pharmacopolist^†.    ... show more

Dutch: fopmiddel, placebo, schijnmiddel
Polish: placebo

Roman Catholic Church Vespers of the office for the dead.