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

Cox’s body was taken to the medical examiner's office for autopsy, and his next of kin were notified, the Alaska Department of Public Safety added. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a statement Friday that a medical examiner ruled Adair’s death had been caused by mechanical asphyxia, or when an object or physical force stops someone from breathing. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025

Some, Paul said, will be kept at the site of the World Trade Center, where the medical examiner maintains a repository for victims, accessible only to staff. —Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025

The medical examiner could not determine eye color. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025

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