medical examiner

noun

: a usually appointed public officer whose duties are similar to those of a coroner but who is typically required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies

Examples of medical examiner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The medical examiner later determined her cause of death to be asphyxia and the manner to be homicide. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 The body was soon identified as Rice, but the medical examiner found something even more disturbing -- five gunshot wounds on his body. Mason Leath, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2025 Case grows cold After the workers found the remains, the medical examiner’s office took up the case, police said. Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025 The medical examiner’s office had agreed in February of this year to re-examine the Greenberg case as part of a settlement in a suit by Josh and Sandee Greenberg against various city officials. Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for medical examiner

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medical examiner was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Medical examiner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medical%20examiner. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

medical examiner

noun
1
: a usually appointed public officer with duties similar to those of a coroner but who is required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies
2
: a physician employed to make medical examinations (as of applicants for military service or of claimants of workers' compensation)
3
: a physician appointed to examine and license candidates for the practice of medicine in a political jurisdiction (as a state)

Legal Definition

medical examiner

noun
med·​i·​cal examiner
: a public officer who determines the necessity of and conducts autopsies

More from Merriam-Webster on medical examiner

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