coroner

noun

cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce coroner (audio)
ˈkär-
: a usually elected public officer who is typically not required to have specific medical qualifications and whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of any death which there is reason to suppose is not due to natural causes compare medical examiner

Examples of coroner in a Sentence

The coroner examined the body but found no evidence of foul play.
Recent Examples on the Web The coroner's office determined the man died on Feb. 21, the same day he was found at Maplewood Elementary School. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 The coroner's office asks anyone with information to call 513-946-8700. The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024 Dhawan was found unresponsive on the concrete steps of a university building, where he was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the police and coroners’ reports. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 But in 2015, plant toxicology experts from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew told a coroner’s court that traces of a rare plant poison – gelsemium – were found in his stomach. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 The Marshall Project and WTSP found at least five cases where coroners mentioned spit hoods as a possible cause or contributing factor in fatalities. Daphne Duret, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 In 2022, the coroner’s office submitted her DNA to the DNA Doe Project, which identified a match that led detectives to her son, the department said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 14 Feb. 2024 Last week was the first time the Kootenai County coroner released that Floyd had died by homicide. Alexandra Duggan, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2024 In August, a 30-year-old man died on the sidewalk from a fatal overdose, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coroner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corowner, coronour "local officer of the crown charged with supervision of royal pleas," borrowed from Anglo-French coroner, corouner, from corone, coroune crown entry 1 + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coroner was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near coroner

Cite this Entry

“Coroner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coroner. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coroner

noun
cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce coroner (audio)
ˈkär-
: a public officer whose chief duty is to discover the causes of any death possibly not due to natural causes

Medical Definition

coroner

noun
cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər, ˈkär- How to pronounce coroner (audio)
: a usually elected public officer who is typically not required to have specific medical qualifications and whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of any death which there is reason to suppose is not due to natural causes see medical examiner sense 1

Legal Definition

coroner

noun
cor·​o·​ner ˈkȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce coroner (audio)
: a public officer whose principal duty is to inquire by an inquest into the cause of death when there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes
Etymology

Anglo-French, recorder of crown pleas, from corone crown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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