medical examiner

noun

: a usually appointed public officer whose duties are similar to those of a coroner but who is typically required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies

Examples of medical examiner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The medical examiner did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday afternoon. —Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 15 May 2026

Both men were pronounced dead within about 30 minutes of the shooting, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

The deceased man found inside the home that burned was identified by the medical examiner as Matthew Heflin. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 14 May 2026

Clarke's cause of death is deferred, the medical examiner's office said on its website. —Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for medical examiner

• interlaminar
• laminar

Medical Definition

medical examiner

noun

1

: a usually appointed public officer with duties similar to those of a coroner but who is required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies

2

: a physician employed to make medical examinations (as of applicants for military service or of claimants of workers' compensation)

3

: a physician appointed to examine and license candidates for the practice of medicine in a political jurisdiction (as a state)

Legal Definition

medical examiner

noun

med·​i·​cal examiner

: a public officer who determines the necessity of and conducts autopsies