thanatology

[ than-uh-tol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of death and its surrounding circumstances, as in forensic medicine.
2. Psychiatry. the study of the effects of death and dying, especially the investigation of ways to lessen the suffering and address the needs of the terminally ill and their survivors.

thanatology

/ ˌθænəˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the scientific study of death and the phenomena and practices relating to it

Other Words From

• than·a·to·log·i·cal [than-, uh, -tl-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• thana·tolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thanatology¹

First recorded in 1835–45; thanato- + -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of thanatology¹

C19: from Greek thanatos death + -logy