cadaver

noun

ca·​dav·​er kə-ˈda-vər How to pronounce cadaver (audio)
: a dead body
especially : one intended for dissection
cadaveric
kə-ˈdav-rik How to pronounce cadaver (audio)
-ˈda-və-
adjective

Examples of cadaver in a Sentence

medical students who train by using cadavers
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Olsen’s dental team also had to rebuild her jawbone with cadaver bone grafts, wire her jaw shut, remove broken teeth, and stabilize ones that became loose. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 Drones, a swift water team, cadaver dogs and even GoPros were used in the Cascade Mountain range outside the city of Leavenworth, a rural area known for its wild beauty and treacherous terrain. Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 Despite an exhaustive search using drones, cadaver dogs and divers, authorities have never found Delphine's body or any other forensic evidence, The Times of London reports. Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025 Drones and cadaver dogs helped locate the remains, the outlet noted. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cadaver

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from cadere to fall

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cadaver was circa 1500

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cadaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cadaver. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

cadaver

noun
ca·​dav·​er kə-ˈdav-ər How to pronounce cadaver (audio)
: a dead body especially of a person : corpse

Medical Definition

cadaver

noun
ca·​dav·​er kə-ˈdav-ər How to pronounce cadaver (audio)
plural cadavers also cadavera -ə-rə How to pronounce cadaver (audio)
: a dead body
specifically : one intended for use in medical education or research
cadaveric adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cadaver

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!