English Explanatory Dictionary

nostrum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A medicine or remedy in conventional use which has not been proven to have any desirable medical effects.
  2. An ineffective but favorite remedy for a problem, usually involving political action.

Pronunciation

/ˈnɒs.tɹəm/ /ˈnɑ.stɹəm/ en-us-nostrum.ogg

Word forms

nostrum nostrums nostra

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin nostrum (“ours”), nominative neuter of noster (“our, ours”).

Synonyms

nostrum remedium paternoster patent medicine snake oil
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