death certificate

noun

: an official document that gives information about a person's death (such as when and how the death happened)

Examples of death certificate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His death certificate listed the cause of death as a heart attack. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

His death certificate, obtained by TMZ, did not elaborate on plans for Carradine’s interment, and the family has requested privacy to grieve. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026

Robert Carradine's death certificate has been released. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026

The death certificate also notes that Oseguera Cervantes was to be buried, standard practice in cases of violent deaths to allow for additional forensic evidence to be gathered if needed in the future. —CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026

Legal Definition

death certificate

noun

: a document setting forth information (as age, occupation, and place of birth) relating to a dead person and including a doctor's certification of the cause of death

Note: Death certificates are issued by a particular public official, as a city or town clerk. A death certificate is required to document a person's death for certain purposes, as to file an estate tax return or to probate an estate.