English Reference

Word

forensics

Phoneticsforen·sics

US/ˌfɔˈɹɛnsɪks/

UK/fəɹˈɛnsɪks/

Definition

n. the use of scientific methods to solve crimes. It involves looking at physical evidence like DNA or fingerprints to find out what happened.

n. the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime. Often refers to the laboratory analysis of physical evidence such as biological samples or digital data.

Examples

“The police sent the evidence to the forensics lab.”

“Advances in digital forensics allow investigators to recover deleted messages from encrypted mobile devices.”

“While the witness testimony was inconsistent, the forensics report provided undeniable physical evidence that placed the suspect at the scene during the time of the crime.”

Examples

simple

“The police sent the evidence to the forensics lab.”

contextual

“Advances in digital forensics allow investigators to recover deleted messages from encrypted mobile devices.”

complex

“While the witness testimony was inconsistent, the forensics report provided undeniable physical evidence that placed the suspect at the scene during the time of the crime.”

Usage

Typically functions as a singular noun despite the 's' ending; often used as a modifier before another noun like 'lab' or 'team'.

Real-World Examples

“Sorrell, a digital forensics science expert, analysed Patterson’s mobile phone records for police and testified at the trial.”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026
“Buckberry and her colleagues threw everything they could, metaphorically speaking, at the jigsaw puzzle of broken bones: forensics, microscopes, X-rays, and micro-CT scans.”
Ars Technica · 17 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference