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panacea

/ˌpænəˈsiə/
/pænəˈsiə/
IPA guide

Other forms: panaceas

If someone offers you a pill that promises eternal life, don’t take the pill. It’s a panacea, a remedy that falsely claims to solve every problem ever.

The Greek word pan means “all” (think of a panorama, a view where you can see everywhere). The Greek word for “cure” is akēs (which looks like the word “aches”). Those are the roots of panacea, a cure for all aches. But a panacea doesn’t really cure everything; it just acts like it can. Use the word to describe an unbelievable solution, like a new law that will make everyone rich, or a robot that does your homework for you.

Definitions of panacea
  1. noun
    hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists
    see moresee less
    types:
    elixir
    a substance believed to cure all ills
    elixir of life
    a hypothetical substance believed to maintain life indefinitely; once sought by alchemists
    type of:
    curative, cure, remedy, therapeutic
    a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
Pronunciation
US
/ˌpænəˈsiə/
UK
/pænəˈsiə/
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