medical examiner

noun

Synonyms of medical examinernext
: 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 determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide. Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2026 Santa Clara’s salaries for sheriff, medical examiner, county assessor, budget director and head of IT were also all higher than Mecklenburg’s as of 2024. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026 The person fatally shot at a party Sunday in Crete Township has been identified as Hammond resident David Velazquez, 20, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026 The cause of death in the case of Whyte and others will be determined by the chief medical examiner’s office, which can often take six weeks or more due to toxicology tests. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026 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 6 Apr. 2026.

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

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