ketamine

noun

ke·​ta·​mine ˈke-tə-ˌmēn  ˈkē- 

: a general anesthetic that is administered intravenously and intramuscularly in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₃H₁₆ClNO·HCl and that is used illicitly usually by being inhaled in powdered form especially for the dreamlike or hallucinogenic state it produces

Note: Ketamine is also called Special K when used as a recreational drug

Examples of ketamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Elon Musk took to social media Tuesday to show off what appeared to be a negative urine test for multiple substances including ketamine, cocaine and amphetamines. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025

According to his plea agreement, Plasencia gave Perry 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges, and syringes between September 30 and October 12, 2023, per ABC News. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 June 2025

Binda said investigators found $9,000 in cash, substances that tested positive for MDMA and ketamine, lubricant and baby oil. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

The New York Times reported last month that Musk used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms during his campaigning for Trump last year. —Steve Inskeep, NPR, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

ket(one) + amine

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ketamine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Medical Definition

ketamine

noun

ke·​ta·​mine ˈkēt-ə-ˌmēn 

: a general anesthetic that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₃H₁₆ClNO·HCl and that is used illicitly usually by being inhaled in powdered form especially for the dreamlike or hallucinogenic state it produces see special k