noun / verb
autopsy
AW-tahp-see/ˈɔːtɑːpsi/
An examination after death to discover its cause.
The pathologist performs an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
Etymology
The pieces express “seeing with one's own eyes.” Originally direct observation or eyewitnessing, the word became specialized for examining a dead body to determine the cause of death.
In context
examining the evidence that was present on the body at the scene of death and taken during the autopsy
More examples
- The body was autopsied before the final report was issued.
- Investigators compared findings from several autopsies.
- The team conducted an autopsy of the failed project to understand its mistakes.
Forms
autopsy · autopsies · autopsied · autopsying
Similar words
- postmortem
- Can mean the same examination or a review after an event.
- analysis
- Is broader and need not concern something completed or dead.