ketosis

noun

ke·​to·​sis kē-ˈtō-səs 

: an abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the body

ketotic

kē-ˈtä-tik 

adjective

Examples of ketosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The diet's goal is to force the body to enter ketosis, a metabolic process in which the ketones found in fat are burned for energy instead of or in addition to the glucose found in carbs. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

They are typically seen early in ketosis (the first several days). —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 6 Feb. 2026

Intermittent fasting uses set times for eating and fasting, while keto cuts carbs so your body burns fat for energy (ketosis). —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 27 Jan. 2026

In studies that monitored participants' ketone levels, to confirm metabolic ketosis, the improvement in depressive symptoms appeared more substantial. —New Atlas, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

ket(one) + -osis (after acidosis)

Note: The word ketosis was apparently introduced, somewhat hesitantly, by the American physician Frederick Madison Allen (1879-1964) in "The Role of Fat in Diabetes," American Journal of the Medical Sciences, series 2, vol. 153, no. 3 (March, 1917), p. 335: "The second basis of definition [of acidosis] is that of need and distinctiveness. Diminished alkalinity, increased hydrogen ion concentration, lowering of carbon dioxide, decrease of buffer salts, and (for the symptoms of these changes) acid intoxication—all these terms have definite meanings, and to appropriate the name acidosis for any one of them is merely to create a useless synonym. No other name but acidosis exists for the metabolic process which it denotes. Ketonuria and ketonemia have their accurate place but do not cover the ground. Possibly the word ketosis might be suggested and used for special purposes, but the change of established usage would be difficult and seems unnecessary."

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ketosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis
• narcosis

Medical Definition

ketosis

noun

ke·​to·​sis kē-ˈtō-səs 

plural ketoses -ˌsēz 

1

: an abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the body in conditions of reduced or disturbed carbohydrate metabolism (as in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus) compare acidosis, alkalosis

2

: a nutritional disease of cattle and sometimes sheep, goats, or swine that is marked by reduction of blood sugar and the presence of ketone bodies in the blood, tissues, milk, and urine and is associated with digestive and nervous disturbances

ketotic

-ˈtät-ik 

adjective