coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər 

ˈkär-

: a usually elected public officer who is typically not required to have specific medical qualifications and whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of any death which there is reason to suppose is not due to natural causes compare medical examiner

Examples of coroner in a Sentence

The coroner examined the body but found no evidence of foul play.

Recent Examples on the Web

There were 86 fatal overdoses in Hamilton County involving xylazine between January and September of 2023, the coroner's office reported. —The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

The coroner’s office says the investigation is ongoing. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Police and the coroner’s office were trying to identify him. —Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024

The coroner’s office noted in its release that the car crash incident is being investigated by the Anderson County Office of the Coroner, South Carolina Highway Patrol and the South Carolina Highway Patrol Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation (MAIT) Team. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

Assistance to the coroner’s office will include policy recommendations and training on locating next-of-kin, the department said. —Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

The boy’s cause and manner of death remain pending, according to the coroner’s office. —Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024

The coroner couldn’t determine a cause of death because the bodies were so decomposed. —Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

Police said the coroner’s office pronounced the mother dead at the scene and an autopsy is pending. WNEP reported that an 11-year-old boy in the home was also found with stab wounds, but is expected to survive. —USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corowner, coronour "local officer of the crown charged with supervision of royal pleas," borrowed from Anglo-French coroner, corouner, from corone, coroune crown entry 1 + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər 

ˈkär-

: a public officer whose chief duty is to discover the causes of any death possibly not due to natural causes

Medical Definition

coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər, ˈkär- 

: a usually elected public officer who is typically not required to have specific medical qualifications and whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of any death which there is reason to suppose is not due to natural causes see medical examiner sense 1

Legal Definition

coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər 

: a public officer whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of death when there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes

Etymology

Anglo-French, recorder of crown pleas, from corone crown