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

In May 2023, the Los Angeles medical examiner determined the cause to be the effects of fentanyl and heroin. — Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

This all means that the toxicology report and the medical examiner’s review is paramount in an overdose death, and those take time and resources. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

The Mississippi State medical examiner performed the initial autopsy on Wells' body. — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

Crump also called on the district attorney to release the full autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for medical examiner

• interlaminar
• laminar

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