panacea

¹ American  

[pan-uh-see-uh] / ˌpæn əˈsi ə /

noun

1. a remedy for all disease or ills.

   Synonyms:

   cure-all, nostrum, elixir

2. an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties.

   His economic philosophy is a good one, but he tries to use it as a panacea.

   Synonyms:

   cure-all, nostrum, elixir

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Panacea ² American  

[pan-uh-see-uh] / ˌpæn əˈsi ə /

noun

1. an ancient Greek goddess of healing.

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panacea British  

/ ˌpænəˈsɪə /

noun

1. a remedy for all diseases or ills

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Other Word Forms

• panacean adjective

Etymology

Origin of panacea

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin, from Greek panákeia, equivalent to panake-, stem of panakḗs “all-healing” ( pan- “all” + akḗs “a cure”) + -ia noun suffix; pan-, -ia

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

“While far from a panacea, it’s helping to offset a portion of the shipping disruptions.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

And Dr Daniel agrees that it would be difficult to have wolves and lynx co-exist alongside farms and estates: "Being honest, it's not a panacea," he says.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

In 2052, a celebrated neuroscientist invents an affordable panacea for suffering that’s soon embraced by the entire human race.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025

While Davis can’t really see herself living back in the States again, she was also quick to interject: “Berlin is no panacea, sweetie. There’s no safe spaces anywhere.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

In fact, I don’t share the belief, held by many union staffers, that unionization would be a panacea.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Related Words

• elixir