medical examiner

noun

: a usually appointed public officer whose duties are similar to those of a coroner but who is typically required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies

Examples of medical examiner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The medical examiner ultimately determined that the bag had been wrapped around Dale's head for at least eight minutes, and ruled the cause of death to be asphyxiation and the manner of death to be homicide. Chris Spargo, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025 Friday, the older boy was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 Weiner maintained the patient had terminal cancer for 11 years and said a pathologist and post-mortem medical examiner missed the disease. J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 21 Mar. 2025 The Context According to officials, the body has been transported to the state medical examiner's office for further examination. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for medical examiner

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medical examiner was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Medical examiner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medical%20examiner. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

medical examiner

noun
1
: a usually appointed public officer with duties similar to those of a coroner but who is required to have specific medical training (as in pathology) and is qualified to conduct medical examinations and autopsies
2
: a physician employed to make medical examinations (as of applicants for military service or of claimants of workers' compensation)
3
: a physician appointed to examine and license candidates for the practice of medicine in a political jurisdiction (as a state)

Legal Definition

medical examiner

noun
med·​i·​cal examiner
: a public officer who determines the necessity of and conducts autopsies

More from Merriam-Webster on medical examiner

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