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

Iwamasa, who admitted in court documents to administering the ketamine on the day that Perry died, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, the DOJ said. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025

Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four counts of illegally distributing ketamine to Perry. —December 3, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025

The five people charged in connection with his death took advantage of his addiction, and are charged with distributing ketamine to him during the final weeks of his life, prosecutors alleged. —Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025

Plasencia, who owned an urgent care clinic in Malibu, California, is one of five people to plead guilty in connection to Perry’s accidental death, which was found to be caused by the acute effects of ketamine, and the first to be sentenced. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Dec. 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