nostrum

UK: /ˈnɒstrəm/ US: /ˈnɑstrəm/ ,(nos′trəm)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nos•trum /ˈnɑstrəm/   n. [countable]

1. Drugs a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims.
2. a favorite scheme or plan to correct social or political problems;
   cure-all.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nos•trum  (nos′trəm), n. 

1. Drugs a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value;
   quack medicine.
2. a scheme, theory, device, etc., esp. one to remedy social or political ills;
   panacea.
3. a medicine made by the person who recommends it.
4. a patent medicine.

• Latin nostrum our, ours (neuter singular of noster); referring to the seller's calling the drug "our'' drug
• 1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nostrum / ˈnɒstrəm/ noun

1. a patent or quack medicine
2. a favourite remedy, as for political or social problems

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin: our own (make), from noster our