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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

medical examiner

Chris Oakley said the cause of the deaths would be determined by the medical examiner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

After Walker’s death, a medical examiner ruled that she died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease with preeclampsia, the latter of which is a dangerous pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition that doctors had identified in Walker.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

The medical examiner added that its full report would be available at a later date.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

The medical examiner cited complications related to a respiratory virus and ruled the death as noncriminal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 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

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