autopsy

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

noun

, plural au·top·sies.

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)

, au·top·sied, au·top·sy·ing.

1. to perform an autopsy on.

autopsy

/ ɔːˈtɒp-; ˈɔːtəpsɪ /

noun

1. Also callednecropsypostmortem examination dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
2. an eyewitness observation
3. any critical analysis

autopsy

/ ô′tŏp′sē /

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

Other Words From

• autop·sist 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

In the death of Onyxx, the coroner decided not to order an autopsy for the infant, go to the scene or talk with the family.

From Salon

“We did basically what I call a ‘paperwork autopsy,’” he said.

From Salon

And nearly all of Idaho’s counties lack the facilities and pathologists to do their own autopsies, so a coroner must drive a body to a morgue hours away every time they order an autopsy.

From Salon

In 2012, the team said it received “problematic” documents from coroners detailing how one infant wasn’t autopsied until after its body was embalmed and how another’s death certificate didn’t match what the autopsy found.

From Salon

Two other bills, in 2003 and 2004, tried to take a narrower scope: setting an autopsy requirement for sudden unexplained infant deaths.

From Salon

Related Words

• postmortem