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

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office released Schecter’s name and manner of death Tuesday, police said. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Moïse was shot at least a dozen times according to testimony from Haiti’s medical examiner, who testified last week as Sanon’s trial got under way. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

After reviewing the California Highway Patrol’s investigation, deputy coroners and the medical examiner determined Whittmore’s death would be classified as a suicide. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The medical examiner determined the cause of death was a cardiac air embolism caused by the introduction of air into an intravenous catheter during the procedure, prosecutors said. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for medical examiner

• interlaminar
• laminar

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