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

Drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing fat intake induces ketosis. —New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2025

The keto diet aims to achieve ketosis, a state of metabolism in which fat is used for energy instead of carbohydrates. —Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025

By limiting carbs, the body goes into a state of ketosis, burning fat instead of sugar for energy. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025

Increasing your carbohydrate intake would cause your body to fall out of ketosis. —Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 15 Oct. 2024

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