postmortem

[pohst-mawr-tuhm]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring in the time following death.

2. of or relating to examination of the body after death.

3. occurring after the end of something; after the event.

   a postmortem criticism of a television show.

adverb

1. after death.

   Pacemakers have to be removed postmortem from bodies that are going to be cremated.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  a postmortem examination; autopsy.

2. an evaluation or discussion occurring after the end or fact of something.

   to do a postmortem on the decision of a court.

3. Cards.,  a discussion of the bidding or playing of a previous hand.

postmortem

/ pəʊstˈmɔːtəm /

adjective

1. (prenominal) occurring after death

noun

1. analysis or study of a recently completed event

   a postmortem on a game of chess

2. See postmortem examination

postmortem

1. Autopsy; figuratively, any analysis that follows an event: “When the convention is over, we'll have a postmortem to find ways of improving it for next year.” From Latin, meaning “after death.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of postmortem¹

First recorded in 1725–35, postmortem is from Latin post mortem “after death”

Word History and Origins

Origin of postmortem¹

C18: from Latin, literally: after death

Example Sentences

The cells were obtained from adult postmortem eye tissue.

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To present the doctrine as merely a kind of postmortem scrub with spiritual soap and water is to miss much of its significance.

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His postmortem portraits, nearly 30 of which are reproduced in “The Harlem Book of the Dead,” are artistic assemblages that honor the dead and the community’s funerary traditions.

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You’re doing a postmortem of the relationship, as any smart, thoughtful person would.

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In an eye-opening postmortem of a brutally short presidential campaign, Kamala Harris lays bare her grievances with members of President Biden’s inner circle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• autopsy 
• dissection