keto

¹ American

[kee-toh] / ˈki toʊ /

adjective

Chemistry.

of or derived from a ketone.

keto- ² American

a combining form representing ketone in compound words.

ketolysis.

keto- British

combining form

indicating that a chemical compound is a ketone or is derived from a ketone

ketose
ketoxime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does keto mean? Keto is short for ketogenic, referring to a diet that is low in carbohydrates but high in protein. While originating as a medical diet, it's popularly associated with weight loss.

Etymology

Origin of keto

First recorded in 1910–15; independent use of keto-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despite the debate surrounding it, the keto diet has been associated with health benefits for certain conditions, including epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

I had a keto diet for most of this tour, and I thought that when I got back to carbs, I’d be more in moderation with it.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

These people probably enjoy Ironman competitions, keto and intermittent fasting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

You have to do keto but also be vegan.

From Slate • Jan. 1, 2025

Here there was no doubt that the keto form, not the enol, was present.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023