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

Examples are drugs containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit, ketamine, anabolic steroids and testosterone. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

The Drug Enforcement Agency, at President Joe Biden’s behest, is considering whether to reclassify cannabis from a drug on par with heroin to one recognized as having moderate-to-low potential for physical and psychological dependence, like ketamine or steroids. —Lavanya Ramanathan, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

This category includes ketamine, lower doses of opioid analgesics and anabolic steroids, for instance. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024

Two months after his death, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine. —Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 28 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