as in autopsy
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death
a coroner performed the postmortem examination with painstaking thoroughness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 examination
In fact, the questioning of Chalker was part of a postmortem examination of a misstep by the case officer who had handed him the key.
—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Hostetler's death was ruled a homicide Dec. 23 after a postmortem examination done by the Office of the Medical Examiner.
—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
24 Dec. 2025
More information will be revealed after a postmortem examination is completed.
—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Dec. 2025
His remains were transported to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, where family members confirmed his identity following a postmortem examination.
—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for postmortem examination
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Hostetler's death was ruled a homicide Dec. 23 after a postmortem examination done by the Office of the Medical Examiner.
—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
24 Dec. 2025
More information will be revealed after a postmortem examination is completed.
—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Dec. 2025
His remains were transported to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, where family members confirmed his identity following a postmortem examination.
—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for postmortem examination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postmortem examination
autopsy
Noun
-
The county also paid nearly $10,000 total for the four autopsies plus toxicology results for each victim, records showed.
-
An autopsy to determine the cause of her death has yet to occur.
Cite this Entry
“Postmortem examination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postmortem%20examination. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
