forensic science

American  

[fuh-ren-sik sahy-uhns, -zik] / fəˈrɛn sɪk ˈsaɪ əns, -zɪk /

noun

1. the professional discipline of scientifically analyzing crime evidence, especially physical evidence.

   All of these consultants have at least a bachelor’s degree in their scientific field, and have completed extensive training related to forensic science and crime scene investigation.

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Etymology

Origin of forensic science

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

She hopes to pursue a career in forensic science, as either a crime scene or crime lab analyst.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Still, examples like this remain uncommon in forensic science.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2026

Professor Rob Ogden has been closely involved in setting up the project and is co- founder of the organisation Trace, which promotes the use of forensic science in wildlife law enforcement.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

The proposal, inspired by how forensic science weighs evidence found at crime scenes, offers researchers a consistent way to communicate how confident they are that microplastic has actually been detected.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

“Because I’m going to be a detective when I grow up,” he’d say, “I need to know forensic science and TV detectives.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein