autopsy

[aw-top-see, aw-tuhp-]

noun

plural

autopsies 

1. inspection and dissection of a body after death, as for determination of the cause of death; postmortem examination.

2. an analysis of something after it has been done or made.

verb (used with object)

autopsied, autopsying 

1. to perform an autopsy on.

autopsy

/ ɔːˈtɒp-, ˈɔːtəpsɪ /

noun

1. Also called: necropsy.  postmortem examination. dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death

2. an eyewitness observation

3. any critical analysis

autopsy

1. A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study pathologic changes.

Other Word Forms

• autopsist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

1645–55; (< Middle French autopsie ) < Greek autopsía a seeing with one's own eyes, equivalent to aut- aut- + óps ( is ) -opsis + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

C17: from New Latin autopsia, from Greek: seeing with one's own eyes, from _auto- + opsis sight

Example Sentences

Skaggs died in his hotel room in Texas of asphyxiation, according to an autopsy, choking on his own vomit while under the influence of oxycodone, fentanyl and alcohol.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Based upon images like this, there is an imperative for complete medical autopsies. We need to know the truth behind how deaths occurred, and the only way to know the truth is to do autopsies."

Read more on BBC

The autopsy determined he died from asphyxia after aspirating on his own vomit, and that his death was accidental.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The autopsy determined he died from asphyxia after aspirating his own vomit, and that his death was accidental.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Researchers from Wright State University analyzed driver autopsy results from car crashes in Montgomery County, Ohio, between January 2019 and September 2024.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• postmortem