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 individual has since been identified by the Honolulu medical examiner as James Simmons, HNN and KITV reported. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025

The medical examiner for the Orlando area ruled the death an accident after performing an autopsy, saying Zavala died of blunt-impact injuries. —CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

His dead was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s website. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025

Following his death, the local medical examiner determined that Zavala died from multiple blunt impact injuries and that the manner of death was accidental. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Dec. 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