-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P8Oxl+8vYCsSk2RlVl0KT9JL+a5Ulvt9Q78st5yp9vAgGxGUveNnqxhfUUjeK70v
 WdHrFxii8eBpmv7Y/JCAhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000350852-11-000037.txt : 20110302
<SEC-HEADER>0000350852-11-000037.hdr.sgml : 20110302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110302113158
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000350852-11-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110302
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			St. Charles Anthony W.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001508804

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31220
		FILM NUMBER:		11654977

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8575 ST. IVES PLACE
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			452555641

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC /KY/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350852
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				610979818
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		346 NORTH MAYO TRAIL
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 2947
		CITY:			PIKEVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41502-2947
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(606)433-4643

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		346 NORTH MAYO TRAIL
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 2947
		CITY:			PIKEVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41502-2947

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971124
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350852</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC /KY/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508804</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>St. Charles Anthony W.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8575 ST. IVES PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>452555641</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4275</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony W St Charles By: Marilyn T Justice Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----