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

The man’s cause and manner of death is still pending following a medical examiner’s investigation. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026

An official cause of death is pending with the state’s medical examiner, the press release said. —Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026

The woman who died in a field during the winter storm in Fort Worth last week has been identified, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office. —Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026

The killing of a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse in Minneapolis that has sparked protests nationwide was a homicide, according to a medical examiner’s report. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 Feb. 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