NSW Selective & Scholarship

Learn “Nostrum

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Selective & Scholarship

Nostrum

noun/NOS-trum/

A nostrum is a quick cure or scheme that is promised to fix a problem but rarely works.

Politicians offered easy nostrums instead of real solutions to the drought.

A nostrum is 'not-true medicine' — the 'nos' start hints the cure is a false promise.

Slightly scornful; use for cures or plans that sound good but are useless.