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 also did not rule out the possibility of poisoning. Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 The Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition, a group of stakeholders, agencies and experts in treatment, harm reduction, prevention, health care, criminal justice and more, planned to share its annual report, the State of the Addiction Crisis, on Friday at the Hamilton County coroner’s office. The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 Beyond their top-of-the-line knives and gleaming facilities — the subject of some chatter among the Mexican coroners — the American pathologists also had an array of expensive tools available to confirm that the man had died of an overdose. Natalie Kitroeff Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 All in-custody deaths in Contra Costa County are investigated by the District Attorney’s Office in compliance with county protocol, and all of those investigations end with a coroner’s inquest hearing. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 With temperatures that night falling below zero, coroners say prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and acute alcohol intoxication contributed to his death from hypothermia. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 The coroner's office shared photos of Tabetha Ann (Slain) Murlin as officials explained the timeline to uncovering her identity. CBS News, 16 Feb. 2024 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

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 29 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!