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

During an emergency visit to the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital hospital in October 2016, staff reported her case to child services when her mother, Beata Kowalski, pleaded with medical personnel to administer her ketamine. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

Rodriguez died July 2 from the toxic effects of a drug combination that included fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine, New York City’s medical examiner disclosed in August. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025

New research from Cleveland Clinic substantiates an alternative solution: ketamine. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025

While some insurance companies cover the cost of a treatment like Spravato, my insurance didn’t cover ketamine therapy in the clinic. —Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 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