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
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.
His death was ruled a suicide by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025 The medical examiner’s report has raised serious concerns among some who work with pediatric patients. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025 The medical examiner’s office said her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, WAVY reported. Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025 The medical examiner's office did find that the victim was a white male between the ages of 60 and 80, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed 118 pounds, with short gray hair and blue eyes, according to the department. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for medical examiner

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medical examiner was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Medical examiner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medical%20examiner. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on medical examiner

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