medical examiner

American  

noun

1. a physician or other person trained in medicine who is appointed by a city, county, or the like, to perform autopsies on the bodies of persons supposed to have died from unnatural causes and to investigate the cause and circumstances of such deaths.

2. a physician retained by an insurance company, industrial firm, or the like, to give medical examinations to its clients or employees.

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medical examiner British  

noun

1. a medical expert, usually a physician, employed by a state or local government to determine the cause of sudden death in cases of suspected violence, suicide, etc Compare coroner

2. a physician who carries out medical examinations

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Etymology

Origin of medical examiner

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The cause of death is pending determination by the county medical examiner.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

The flu-like symptoms that she had off-handedly mentioned to her mother in the days before her death had in fact likely progressed so quickly as to prove toxic, the medical examiner told Ms. Crittenden.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

The Los Angeles medical examiner has disclosed the official cause of death for video game developer Vince Zampella, who died in a fiery car crash in December.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Videos show Burke has a tattoo on one of his fingers matching the one reading "Shhh" that the Los Angeles County medical examiner previously revealed was on Celeste's index finger.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

A simple chalk mark drawn by the medical examiner on one’s clothes could have a person barred from entering his newly adopted country.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool