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

Pilots who fly commercial planes with over six passengers aboard also need medical certificates issued by official aviation medical examiners, the outlet reported. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Sheriff’s detectives recovered the skull and other items from the campsite and surrounding area, but medical examiners were unable to determine a cause of death. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

The Honolulu Police Department’s investigation remains ongoing, while a local medical examiner says her official cause and manner of death have yet to be determined. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

The medical examiner’s office previously said that foul play was not suspected, but that carbon monoxide poisoning has been ruled out as a possibility. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 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