Definition of postmortemnext
as in posthumous
occurring after one's death postmortem tests on the brain tissue of people who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease

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postmortem

2 of 2

noun

as in autopsy
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death the postmortem revealed that the cause of death had been an undetected heart defect

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of postmortem
Adjective
In addition to studying postmortem tissue, imaging methods like MRIs offer alternative tools for investigating neurological conditions. Emily Toomey, Smithsonian, 21 Aug. 2019 Nearby, the researchers also found skulls apparently stuck together with mortar—remnants of one of the towers flanking the tzompantli, where most skulls once exhibited on its posts ended their postmortem journey. Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018
Noun
In that fire, a postmortem report blamed government, regulators and industry in the UK for the deaths of 72 people. NPR, 26 Nov. 2025 Disturbingly, postmortem data suggests that Arakawa died of complications from pulmonary Hantavirus several days before her husband passed. Kahli Zietlow, The Conversation, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for postmortem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postmortem
Adjective
  • What followed was one of the largest posthumous criminal scandals in modern history.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
  • In 2019, Jackson received both a posthumous gold congressional medal of honor and a statue in her hometown of Hampton, Va.
    Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Lawyers representing Good's family released preliminary results of an independent autopsy Wednesday showing details consistent with a report from local first responders released last week.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The four bullets Renee Good took from the gun fired by Minnesota ICE officer Jonathan Ross hit her once each in the arm, breast and head, while a fourth grazed her body, her family said in releasing partial results of an independent autopsy on the slain mother of three.
    Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • And when sunrise was artificially delayed by three hours, the rate of the finches' singing intensified and commenced sooner compared with non-delayed sunrises.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Identity data from incidents like this is frequently reused later for delayed fraud.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Postmortem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postmortem. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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