content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001215235</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000350852</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC /KY/</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-31220</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>346 NORTH MAYO TRAIL</com:street1>
          <com:street2>P.O. BOX 2947</com:street2>
          <com:city>PIKEVILLE</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>KY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>41502-2947</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>(606)433-4643</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>DRAUGHN JAMES B</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Raymond James &amp; Associates</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>880 Carillon Parkway</com:street1>
            <com:city>St. Petersburg</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>33716</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>5000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>209500.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1528</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>12/06/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>CTBI</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/29/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>ESOP</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>CTBI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6528</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/29/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Stock Grant</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>12/06/2023</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>12/06/2023</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>James B. Draughn By: Cynthia L Adkins, Attorney-in-Fact</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2914}]
text: 144
  0001215235
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000350852
  COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC /KY/
  001-31220
  346 NORTH MAYO TRAIL
  P.O. BOX 2947
  PIKEVILLE
  KY
  41502-2947
  (606)433-4643
  DRAUGHN JAMES B
  Officer
  Common
  Raymond James & Associates
  880 Carillon Parkway
  St. Petersburg
  FL
  33716
  5000
  209500.00
  1528
  12/06/2023
  CTBI
  Common
  03/29/2021
  ESOP
  CTBI
  N
  6528
  03/29/2021
  Stock Grant
  Y
  12/06/2023
  12/06/2023
  James B. Draughn By: Cynthia L Adkins, Attorney-in-Fact