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 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

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 judge ordered that the teen's death records be sealed in November to ensure officers received information from the medical examiner before the public.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Kidman and McEwen worked with real-life forensic pathologist Dr. Amy Hawes to learn about the autopsy process, as well as the motivations for becoming a medical examiner.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

“I think you are right,” Miss Volker agreed as Mr. Huffer reached into his jacket pocket and removed the medical examiner paperwork and certificate of death.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos