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

The coroner listed Malloy’s cause of death as traumatic blunt force injuries and the manner of death as an accident. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026

Shasta County authorities said the child, who has not yet been identified, was later released to the coroner's office. —Richard Ramos, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

In anticipation of that, the health department is conducting meetings with public schools, the Mid-America Regional Council, coroners and other health entities to determine how Wyandotte County would coordinate emergency responses in the case of an infectious disease outbreak or a natural disaster. —Sofi Zeman april 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026

His name will be released by the Adams County coroner’s office. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for coroner

• foreigner

Kids Definition

coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər 

ˈkär-

: a public officer whose chief duty is to discover the cause 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