Words / C2

pan-uh-SEE-uh/ˌpænəˈsiːə/

A panacea is a supposed cure for all problems. Native writers nearly always use it in the negative: there is no panacea; not a panacea for…. Cure-all is the plain synonym. In speech, say it will not fix everything. Using panacea as a positive (“this policy is a panacea”) sounds naïve; the word works because it warns against magic solutions.

Meaning

Something that people believe will solve all problems.

Examples

• “There is no panacea for language learning.”
• “Tablets are no panacea for weak teaching.”
• “Do not sell the app as a panacea; it only tracks hours.”

Good to know

Usually negative: no panacea / not a panacea for. Everyday: cure-all. Warns against one-shot solutions.

Near in meaning

cure-all

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