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

Sguros was listed as the informant on West’s death certificate, the affidavit said, and several months after the initial death investigation, Sguros was legally authorized to release West’s remains to a cremation service business. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

But Jett’s foster children grew suspicious when Von Ferdinand couldn’t produce a death certificate for Jett. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Several sections of the death certificate, which contains identities of parents as well as addresses and cause of death, were blacked out. — Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

According to an exclusive new report in US magazine, Mackie’s immediate cause of death is listed in a death certificate, obtained by the news outlet yesterday, as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Oct. 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.