autopsy

play

noun au·top·sy \ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, ˈȯ-təp-\

Definition of autopsy

plural

autopsies

1 : an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease —called also necropsy
2 : a critical examination, evaluation, or assessment of someone or something past

autopsy

transitive verb

See autopsy defined for English-language learners

See autopsy defined for kids

Examples of autopsy in a Sentence

The coroner performed an autopsy on the murder victim's body.
the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer

Recent Examples of autopsy from the Web

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, the coroner's office said.

— chicago tribune staff, chicagotribune.com, "Death of Bartlett woman is apparent homicide, DuPage coroner says", 1 June 2017
Autopsies done under the ruling party led by the late president’s twin brother, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, have revealed that many of the coffins hold remains of multiple victims.

— associated press, Washington Post, "Poland’s former health minister questioned in 2010 crash", 31 May 2017
The forensic pathologists asked by the Star-Telegram to review King’s and Phaneese’s autopsies had serious concerns about their deaths.

— deanna boyd, star-telegram, "Could the death of one abused child have saved the life of another?", 31 May 2017
No, his brain was removed during his autopsy and his body was buried without it.

— jon schwarz, The Intercept, "We Need Memorial Day to Obscure the Unbearable Truth About War", 29 May 2017
In rejecting an independent review of the autopsy, the county’s lawyers cite Rainey’s family, which has asked that one not be done.

— julie k. brown, miamiherald, "Fernández Rundle may face rebuke from Democrats over Rainey case", 29 May 2017
Gibson's body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy determined the manner of death as a homicide by gunshot wound, according to the Facebook post.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Churchville man found shot to death in Aberdeen Monday", 29 May 2017
The bodies are being kept at Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, where doctors will perform autopsies.

— the associated press, The Seattle Times, "Rescuers retrieve bodies of 3 Indian climbers from Everest", 28 May 2017
In the hours after Don Horton died, doctors informed Maura that because Don was only 58, an autopsy would be performed.

— bill pennington, New York Times, "A Football Coach’s Struggle With C.T.E. — and a Guilty Conscience", 26 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autopsy'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of autopsy

Greek autopsia act of seeing with one's own eyes, from aut- + opsis sight, appearance — more at optic

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First Known Use: 1678

See Words from the same year

AUTOPSY Defined for English Language Learners

autopsy

play

noun

Definition of autopsy for English Language Learners

: an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death

Medical Dictionary

autopsy

play play

noun au·top·sy \ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, ˈȯt-əp-\

Medical Definition of autopsy

plural

autopsies

: an examination of the body after death usually with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease—called also necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination

autopsy

transitive verb au·top·sy

Medical Definition of autopsy

autopsied

;

autopsying

: to perform an autopsy on

Law Dictionary

autopsy

play

noun au·top·sy \ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, -təp-\

Legal Definition of autopsy

plural

autopsies

: an examination of a body after death usually involving dissection especially to determine the cause of death —called also post mortem, post mortem examination