ketose

1 of 2

noun (1)

ke·​tose ˈkē-ˌtōs  -ˌtōz 

: a sugar (such as fructose) containing in its acyclic form one ketone group per molecule

ketosis

2 of 2

noun (2)

ke·​to·​sis kē-ˈtō-səs 

: an abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the body

ketotic

kē-ˈtä-tik 

adjective

Examples of ketose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Examples of Popular Fad Diets The ketogenic (keto) diet severely restricts carbohydrates to promote fat metabolism through ketosis. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 2026

The goal of the keto diet is to have the body use fat instead of sugar for energy (ketosis). —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026

The diet's goal is to force the body to enter ketosis, a metabolic process in which the ketones found in fat are burned for energy instead of or in addition to the glucose found in carbs. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

Intermittent fasting uses set times for eating and fasting, while keto cuts carbs so your body burns fat for energy (ketosis). —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably borrowed from German Ketose, from Keton ketone + -ose -ose entry 2

Noun (2)

ket(one) + -osis (after acidosis)

Note: The word ketosis was apparently introduced, somewhat hesitantly, by the American physician Frederick Madison Allen (1879-1964) in "The Role of Fat in Diabetes," American Journal of the Medical Sciences, series 2, vol. 153, no. 3 (March, 1917), p. 335: "The second basis of definition [of acidosis] is that of need and distinctiveness. Diminished alkalinity, increased hydrogen ion concentration, lowering of carbon dioxide, decrease of buffer salts, and (for the symptoms of these changes) acid intoxication—all these terms have definite meanings, and to appropriate the name acidosis for any one of them is merely to create a useless synonym. No other name but acidosis exists for the metabolic process which it denotes. Ketonuria and ketonemia have their accurate place but do not cover the ground. Possibly the word ketosis might be suggested and used for special purposes, but the change of established usage would be difficult and seems unnecessary."

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1891, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1917, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ketose

• burritos
• negritos

Medical Definition

ketose

noun

ke·​tose ˈkē-ˌtōs  -ˌtōz 

: a sugar (as fructose) containing one ketone group per molecule