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Synonyms

postmortem

American  
[pohst-mawr-tuhm] / poʊstˈmɔr təm /

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 British  
/ pəʊstˈmɔːtəm /

adjective

  1. (prenominal) occurring after death

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. analysis or study of a recently completed event

    a postmortem on a game of chess

  2. See postmortem examination

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
postmortem Cultural  

  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.”

Etymology

Origin of postmortem

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

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.

Bowman has called an internal postmortem that Barr conducted inadequate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said postmortem reports have so far confirmed four deaths linked to contaminated drinking water.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

Key discoveries from animal research have been supported by findings in postmortem human brain tissue from individuals with addiction and stress disorders, providing strong evidence that the principles uncovered in the laboratory translate to humans.

From Science Daily • Dec. 13, 2025

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

From MarketWatch • Oct. 8, 2025

The formal identification came last night, the postmortem is today.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.