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

---

noun

1. analysis or study of a recently completed event

   a postmortem on a game of chess

2. See postmortem examination

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”

Explanation

A postmortem is a medical examination of a dead body. It's a kind of autopsy done to learn exactly how the person died. In Latin, mortem is a form of the word for "death," and post means "after." A postmortem, logically enough, is something that happens after death, usually an examination. Another type of postmortem is a meeting or discussion that follows the completion of a project — this kind does not involve an actual death, but simply the end of something, like an art installation or a business venture.

Example Sentences

If you would have told me that in 1990, when "Postmortem" came out and the first printing was 6,000 copies, that I would sell that many books, I think I'd have been scared.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2021

Postmortem studies conducted by Dick Swaab of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience suggested multiple differences in brain structure between transgender and cisgender individuals.

From Scientific American • Mar. 23, 2021

Postmortem tests for covid-19 are happening unevenly across the country, experts said.

From Washington Post • Apr. 5, 2020

Postmortem, Alison has an opportunity to exhibit bravery with no consequences to her safety or livelihood.

From The Guardian • Jul. 17, 2019

Postmortem photographs of children showed their bodies posed as if asleep or with toys as if still alive.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• autopsy
• dissection