control group

[kuhn-trohl groop]

noun

1. (in an experiment or clinical trial) a group of subjects closely resembling the treatment group in many demographic variables but not receiving the active medication or factor under study and thereby serving as a comparison group when treatment results are evaluated.

control group

noun

1. any group used as a control in a statistical experiment, esp a group of patients who receive either a placebo or a standard drug during an investigation of the effects of another drug on other patients

Word History and Origins

Origin of control group¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

In a way, he’s set up a nice A/B test in the field of persuasion science—an experimental trial, if you will, to compare against the Shor-influenced control group in which his party’s senior figures usually place themselves.

From Slate

It didn’t compare the GLP-1 users with a control group that wasn’t taking the drug, meaning that the product could be just as beneficial to nonusers.

From Slate

A paper listed as support for the myocarditis threat, for example, states, “no causality can be assumed or established” linking the condition to the vaccine because of the lack of a control group for comparison.

From Los Angeles Times

The other reason is that there is no easy control group for any specific food.

From Slate

In the study, 40 babies were injected with vaccines containing thimerosal, while a control group of 21 babies got shots that did not contain the preservative.

From Los Angeles Times