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

Chavez and Plasencia have also been convicted for their roles in what prosecutors called a conspiracy to illegally distribute ketamine to Perry. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

The two doctors convicted of supplying Perry with large quantities of liquid ketamine before his death were sentenced last December. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026

And more than two years ago the Food and Drug Administration issued a public warning against medically unmonitored use of at-home oral ketamine. —Michael Alvear, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026

According to Texas law, that penalty group includes high-addiction-risk drugs that have no medicinal use, like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, ketamine or Fentanyl. —Katey Psencik, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026

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