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

According to a death certificate, Goodall’s cause of death is listed as cardiopulmonary arrest. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025

Goodall died of cardiac arrest, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest, her death certificate states. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

The legendary zoologist and conservationist, who dedicated her life to the study of chimpanzees, died at 91 from cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025

Primatologist Jane Goodall died of cardiopulmonary arrest, according to her death certificate, TMZ reported Monday. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

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.