Definition of postmortemnext
as in posthumous
occurring after one's death postmortem tests on the brain tissue of people who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease

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postmortem

2 of 2

noun

as in autopsy
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death the postmortem revealed that the cause of death had been an undetected heart defect

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of postmortem
Adjective
In addition to studying postmortem tissue, imaging methods like MRIs offer alternative tools for investigating neurological conditions. Emily Toomey, Smithsonian, 21 Aug. 2019 Nearby, the researchers also found skulls apparently stuck together with mortar—remnants of one of the towers flanking the tzompantli, where most skulls once exhibited on its posts ended their postmortem journey. Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018
Noun
If the American state disintegrates, future postmortems are unlikely to focus much on measles, or on rotavirus vaccination rates. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 Her complaints were extremely detailed and highlighted some genuine challenges in postmortem toxicology. Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postmortem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postmortem
Adjective
  • The original eight novels, written in the 1930s and 1940s along with a posthumous ninth published in 1971, have shaped generations of readers.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Her posthumous album with Nomad War Machine is a celebration of the vertiginous possibility of life, and a capstone on a career that took none of it for granted.
    H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The state then bypassed a formal autopsy and left her family in the dark, providing no clear explanation for her sudden decline, the court said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Not all death cases require a full autopsy, Harding said, because some deaths’ causes can be determined simply based on an investigation.
    Shannon Tyler March 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Fashion firms often operate on slim margins, and these can quickly erode due to late receipts, misaligned inventory allocation and delayed markdowns.
    SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Brave jumpers leaped into Evergreen Lake on March 1, or meteorological spring, as the delayed Evergreen Lake Plunge took place.
    CBSColorado.com Staff, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Postmortem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postmortem. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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