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.
Paramedics declared the person deceased and called the police department and medical examiner to the scene to take over the case, the fire department said. Bill Feather, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026 The victim — identified by the Dallas County medical examiner’s office as Areeb Zamir — died at the scene. Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026 The medical examiner conducted an investigation at the scene, but Jones’ cause of death remains undetermined. Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026 Both the San Francisco police and the medical examiner's office were then called to the scene. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Jan. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Medical examiner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medical%20examiner. Accessed 6 Jan. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on medical examiner

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