ketogenic

adjective

ke·​to·​gen·​ic ˌkē-tō-ˈje-nik 

1

: producing or involved in the formation of ketone bodies

ketogenic amino acids

also : marked by the presence of ketone bodies

a ketogenic state

2

: of, relating to, or caused by a ketogenic diet

ketogenic weight loss

ketogenic meals

Examples of ketogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When asked how ketogenic therapy might someday enter mainstream psychiatric care, Scher envisioned multidisciplinary care teams. — Kelly Rogers Victor, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Today host Emily Kwong talks to Shebani about the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry and how ketogenic metabolic therapy may treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. — Berly McCoy, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026

The ketogenic — or keto diet, is a low-carb, high-fat diet, intended to increase your body's ability to burn fat by substituting carbohydrates for fats in your diet, according to Healthline. — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Though some of the underlying science is still emerging, the relationship between metabolic health and mood is genuine; ketogenic and other metabolic therapies are being studied for serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. — Sunny Patel, STAT, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

keto- + -genic, probably after German ketogen

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ketogenic

• ketogenic diet

Rhymes for ketogenic

• allergenic
• androgenic
• antigenic
• authigenic
• autogenic
• biogenic
• bronchogenic
• chromogenic
• cryogenic
• echogenic
• estrogenic
• isogenic

Kids Definition

ketogenic

adjective

ke·​to·​gen·​ic ˌkēt-ō-ˈjen-ik 

1

: producing or involved in the formation of ketone bodies

also : marked by the presence of ketone bodies

a ketogenic state

2

: of, relating to, or caused by a ketogenic diet

ketogenic weight loss

Medical Definition

ketogenic

adjective

ke·​to·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik 

1

: producing or involved in the formation of ketone bodies

It is known that a high protein diet causes the production of ketone bodies derived from lipid oxidation and ketogenic amino acids.

—Vania Mattoso Ribeiro et al., Demetra: Food, Nutrition & Health

also : marked by the presence of ketone bodies

ketogenic states

2

: of, relating to, or caused by a ketogenic diet

ketogenic weight reduction