Word
forensic
Phoneticsforen·sic
US/ˌfɔˈɹɛnsɪk/
UK/fəɹˈɛnsɪk/
Definitions
01crime investigation
adj. relating to the use of science to solve crimes and find evidence for a court.
adj. relating to the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime.
“The police are waiting for the forensic report to identify the fingerprints.”
“Forensic evidence gathered at the scene proved instrumental in securing a conviction despite the lack of eyewitness testimony.”
Usage
Usually precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'forensic evidence' or 'forensic science'.
Synonyms
02extremely detailed
adj. very careful and detailed, like a scientific investigation.
adj. characterised by a very high level of detail and meticulousness; often used by analogy with legal investigations.
“The accountant did a forensic examination of the company's spending.”
“The journalist's forensic analysis of the leaked documents revealed a pattern of corruption that had spanned several decades.”
Informal
Teaching tip
This sense is a common figurative extension in business and journalism; it implies a level of scrutiny that leaves no detail unchecked.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03legal or argumentative
adj. relating to courts of law or formal debate.
adj. relating to, or suitable for, courts of law or public debate.
“The lawyer was famous for his forensic skills in the courtroom.”
“The professor's forensic approach to the historical debate relied on a strict interpretation of the original statutes.”
Formal · Archaic
Usage
In modern English, this sense is largely superseded by 'legal' or 'rhetorical' except in specific academic contexts.
Real-World Examples
“The highway was closed for almost seven hours while forensic experts and members of Brazil's federal highway police examined the site of the crash, which is located at kilometre 209.” “When Helen asked one detective whether she could have her forensic evidence back, she says she was told, “What do you want with that?” Etymology
From Latin forēnsis (“of the forum, public”) + -ic, from forum (“forum, marketplace”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/forensic