Phrase guide

magic bullet

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A simple remedy for a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • In recent years, penicillin-based drugs have lost some of their magic bullet status due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  • History shows that there's no magic bullet for a global financial crisis.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a remedy (drug or therapy or preventive) that cures or prevents a disease

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • there is no magic bullet against cancer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remedy, curative, cure, therapeutic

History

Etymology

Calque of German Zauberkugel. Coined by physician Paul Ehrlich as an allusion to the opera Der Freischütz. Compare silver bullet, from werewolf lore.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ihmelääke — a remedy
  • French: panacée — a remedy
  • French: solution miracle — a remedy
  • French: remède miracle — a remedy
  • French: formule magique — a remedy
  • Georgian: პანაცეა (ṗanacea) — a remedy
  • Greek: μαγική συνταγή (magikí syntagí) — a remedy
  • Italian: panacea — a remedy
  • Japanese: 魔弾 (madan) — a remedy
  • Portuguese: panaceia — a remedy
  • Portuguese: santo remédio — a remedy
  • Portuguese: fórmula mágica — a remedy