ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coroner

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɔɹənɝ// UK //kˈɒɹənɐ// coro·ner

n. an official who investigates sudden or unusual deaths. They decide if a death was natural, an accident, or something else.

n. a public officer responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, unexplained, or violent.


SIMPLE

The coroner examined the body at the scene.

CONTEXTUAL

The coroner ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of the driver's death.

COMPLEX

After the coroner ruled the death a suicide, the family accepted the findings and closed the chapter on their grief.

Origin

From Middle English coroner, from Old French curuner, from Medieval Latin custōs placitōrum corōnae (“guardian of the crown's pleas”). The function was originally to protect royal properties.

© 2026 English Reference