ketamine

noun

Save Word

ke·ta·mine | \ ˈke-tə-ˌmēn

, ˈkē-

Definition of ketamine

: 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 McClain died after being stopped by police, put in a chokehold and injected with the powerful sedative ketamine in 2019. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2022 He was placed in a chokehold and paramedics injected him with the powerful sedative ketamine. — Amy Forliti, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2022 Colorado’s health department announced Wednesday that emergency workers should not use a condition involving erratic behavior by people as a reason to inject them with the drug ketamine. — NBC News, 2 Dec. 2021 Clair has helped nine patients return to Kadima for more ketamine sessions. — USA Today, 1 Nov. 2021 In 2015, there were fewer than 60 ketamine clinics in the U.S. — Dr. Nicholas Nissen, ABC News, 21 July 2021 By personally paying for treatments and obtaining donor funds, St.Clair has helped nine patients return to Kadima for more ketamine sessions. — USA Today, 1 Nov. 2021 Once the ketamine took hold, his mother took him to experience her birth and showed him the afterlife. — Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 At the suggestion of former co-host Sara Gilbert, Osbourne underwent ketamine therapy, which psychiatrists sometimes use to treat severe depression. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ketamine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About ketamine

Dictionary Entries Near ketamine

ketal

ketamine

ketapang

Statistics for ketamine

Last Updated

26 Apr 2022

Cite this Entry

“Ketamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ketamine. Accessed 16 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for ketamine

ketamine

noun

ke·ta·mine | \ ˈkēt-ə-ˌmēn

Medical Definition of ketamine

: 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