Word
coroner
Phoneticscoro·ner
US/ˈkɔɹənɝ/
UK/kˈɒɹənɐ/
Definitions
01legal/public official
n. a public official who holds a legal inquiry into deaths that happen suddenly or for unknown reasons.
n. a public official who presides over an inquest into deaths that are unnatural, sudden, or suspicious. In many jurisdictions, this role is judicial rather than medical.
“The coroner ruled that the man's death was an accident after hearing the evidence.”
“The coroner opened an inquest into the industrial accident, summoning several witnesses to determine if safety regulations had been breached.”
Formal
Usage
Often used with verbs like 'rule', 'conclude', or 'open an inquest'.
Teaching tip
In the UK and many Commonwealth countries, a coroner is usually a lawyer; in parts of the US, the role is often filled by a medical doctor.
Synonyms
02medical examiner
n. a doctor who examines dead bodies to find the scientific cause of death.
n. a medical professional, often an appointed official, who performs autopsies to determine the physiological cause and time of death.
“The coroner performed an autopsy to see if the victim had been poisoned.”
“The county coroner confirmed that the cause of death was consistent with blunt force trauma, providing essential evidence for the police investigation.”
American English · Technical
Usage
In North American contexts, this sense often overlaps with 'medical examiner'.
Teaching tip
While 'coroner' and 'medical examiner' are used interchangeably in casual American English, a medical examiner is always a physician, whereas a coroner may be an elected official.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Once complete, the coroner will confirm if an inquest will take place.” “In 2022, a coroner in London called for action after the death of 14-year-old Fatima Abukah on a privately owned scooter.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/coroner