forensic

American  

[fuh-ren-sik, -zik] / fəˈrɛn sɪk, -zɪk /

adjective

1. relating to, connected with, or used in courts of law, especially with reference to the scientific analysis of evidence.

   The defense called a professional witness with credentials in forensic toxicology.

2. relating, adapted, or suited to argumentation or to public discussion and debate; rhetorical.

   The Athenians were famous for their forensic eloquence in the public forum.

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noun

1. forensics.

forensic British  

/ fəˈrɛnsɪk, fəˌrɛnsɪˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. relating to, used in, or connected with a court of law

   forensic science

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Other Word Forms

• forensicality
  noun
• forensically
  adverb
• nonforensic
  adjective
• nonforensically
  adverb
• unforensic
  adjective
• unforensically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of forensic

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin forēns(is) “public,” literally, “of the forum” (from for(um) forum + -ēnsis -ensis ) + -ic ( def. )

Explanation

The adjective forensic describes scientific methods used to investigate crimes. If you're looking for forensic evidence, you're using your scientific know-how to find proof that will help solve crimes. The adjective forensic comes from the Latin word forensis, meaning “in open court” or “public.” When you describe something as forensic you usually mean that has to do with finding evidence to solve a crime. It could also mean that it has to do with the courts or legal system. You could have a forensic advantage — meaning an advantage in court — if the forensic team — meaning the investigators — found no forensic evidence of you being involved.

Example Sentences

Coroner Simon Cooper found that the "now-dead forensic pathologist Dr Royal Cummings was the person who provided the large majority of coronial specimens to the museum".

From BBC • May 19, 2026

His recommendations, he said, included advising the request of a forensic post-mortem examination and proactive investigative lines in an effort to locate Katie's missing mobile phone.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

"Astrobiology is fundamentally a forensic science," said Gideon Yoffe, postdoctoral researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and first author of the study.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

“The arrest is the easy part; the digital forensic examination is time-consuming, expensive, and without the evidence, we don’t have a case,” Doyle said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Mr. Hinton was wrongly convicted of two robbery-murders outside Birmingham after state forensic employees mistakenly concluded that a gun recovered from his mother's home had been used in the crimes.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson