nostrum
noun/ˈnɒstrəm/
/ˈnɑːstrəm/
(disapproving)- (formal) an idea that is intended to bring political or social improvement, but will probably not succeed
- reactionary/progressive nostrums
- Too many voters yearn for the simplistic nostrums of extreme nationalists.
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- (old-fashioned) a medicine that is not made in a scientific way, and that is not effective
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin, used in the sense ‘(something) of our own making’, neuter of noster ‘our’.
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nostrum