magic bullet

noun

1
: a substance or therapy capable of destroying pathogens (such as bacteria or cancer cells) or providing an effective remedy for a disease or condition without deleterious side effects
2
: something providing an effective solution to a difficult or previously unsolvable problem
a magic bullet to stem voter apathy

Examples of magic bullet in a Sentence

There is no magic bullet to fix our educational system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To its credit, Aaron Hernandez and the Untold Murders of Bristol doesn’t try to come up with a magic bullet theory to explain the carnage. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025 There is no magic bullet that can end the war in Yemen. Michael Wahid Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2021 These treaties were certainly not magic bullets—several countries have still not met their commitments. Rachel Rothschild, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2015 No magic bullet can solve this vast political and economic conundrum. Nicholas Shaxson, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018 See all Example Sentences for magic bullet 

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of magic bullet was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near magic bullet

Cite this Entry

“Magic bullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magic%20bullet. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

magic bullet

noun
mag·​ic bul·​let ˈmaj-ik-ˈbu̇l-ət How to pronounce magic bullet (audio)
: a substance or therapy capable of destroying pathogenic agents (as bacteria or cancer cells) or providing a remedy for a disease or condition without deleterious side effects

More from Merriam-Webster on magic bullet

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