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

The boy was infected with measles, which is listed on the death certificate as a contributing factor. — CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

The death certificate stated that pancreatic adenocarcinoma and other conditions were contributing factors. — Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2026

Knowings died from cardiac arrest, according to the death certificate obtained by People. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Her death certificate lists primary pneumonia as a condition that led to her death. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 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.