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. )

Example Sentences

Before long, the students were arriving to class early, staying late, and showing up to the forensic lab on their days off to continue their research.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Before she became an educator at UT–Arlington, she spent decades as a forensic analyst working high-profile cases such as the Branch Davidian siege in Waco.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Social media is rife with fabricated satellite imagery, heatmaps and other pseudo forensic visuals used to cast doubt on genuine evidence from the war, researchers say.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

But then love and marriage reared its head and Burden’s story took a dark turn, which she chronicles with a keen forensic eye in her buzzy new memoir, “Strangers.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

But this new century was the dawn of what was optimistically called forensic science.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day