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

Courteney Cox honors Friends costar Matthew Perry 1 year after his death Kudrow's Drew Barrymore visit came a bit more than a year after Perry's untimely death at 54, from the acute effects of ketamine. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025

Sangha and Plasencia face charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and are set to go on trial in March 2025. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 26 Dec. 2024

According to police, arriving paramedics administered ketamine — a general anesthetic — to calm him down. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

Arlo frustratingly runs away, while Maggie follows James into the barn with the ketamine syringe. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

ket(one) + amine

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

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