ketamine

noun

ke·​ta·​mine ˈke-tə-ˌmēn How to pronounce ketamine (audio) ˈkē- How to pronounce ketamine (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An autopsy report later determined his death was an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The actor died in 2023 from acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Perry died in 2023 after injecting himself with ketamine and drowning in his hot tub. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 Drugs became a central part of their relationship, and early on, Watts brought McCollough to a practitioner for an intramuscular ketamine injection. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ketamine

Word History

Etymology

ket(one) + amine

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ketamine was in 1966

Rhymes for ketamine

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Browse Nearby Words

ketal
ketamine
ketapang
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Cite this Entry

“Ketamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ketamine. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

ketamine

noun
ke·​ta·​mine ˈkēt-ə-ˌmēn How to pronounce ketamine (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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