Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

forensic science

American  
[fuh-ren-sik sahy-uhns, -zik] / fəˈrɛn sɪk ˈsaɪ əns, -zɪk /

noun

  1. the professional discipline of scientifically analyzing crime evidence, especially physical evidence.

    All of these consultants have at least a bachelor’s degree in their scientific field, and have completed extensive training related to forensic science and crime scene investigation.


Etymology

Origin of forensic science

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She hopes to pursue a career in forensic science, as either a crime scene or crime lab analyst.

From Slate Apr. 6, 2026

Still, examples like this remain uncommon in forensic science.

From Science Daily Mar. 6, 2026

The proposal, inspired by how forensic science weighs evidence found at crime scenes, offers researchers a consistent way to communicate how confident they are that microplastic has actually been detected.

From Barron's Jan. 27, 2026

Advances in forensic science meant testing was now "far more sophisticated" than at the time of the original investigation.

From BBC Jan. 19, 2026

In the search for the Mona Lisa, Louis Lépine was partnered with Alphonse Bertillon, a pioneer in this new field of forensic science.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com