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 medical examiner ruled Wormley’s death was due to a fentanyl overdose. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025

The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office ruled her cause of death as blunt force trauma. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 9 May 2025

Police said the victim’s name will be released later by the medical examiner’s office and the incident remains under investigation. —Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025

Over about two and a half days, prosecutors moved quickly, calling only five witnesses, including Mills, a medical examiner and Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells. Delivering her closing arguments Monday, Assistant District Attorney Melanie Headley encouraged jurors to listen closely to the videos. —Katie Riordan, NPR, 7 May 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