A postmortem is a medical examination of a dead person's body in order to find out how they died.
A postmortem was carried out to establish the cause of death.
2. countable noun
A postmortem is an examination of something that has recently happened, especially something that has failed or gone wrong.
The postmortem on the presidential campaign is under way.
postmortem in British English
(pəʊstˈmɔːtəm)
adjective
1. (prenominal)
occurring after death
noun
2.
analysis or study of a recently completed event
a postmortem on a game of chess
3. Also: postmortem examination
dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
Also called: autopsy, necropsy
Word origin
C18: from Latin, literally: after death
postmortem in American English
(ˌpoʊstˈmɔrtəm)
adjective
1.
happening, done, or made after death
2.
having to do with a post-mortem examination
noun
3.
postmortem examination
4.
a detailed examination or evaluation of some event just ended
Also written post-mortem
Word origin
L, lit., after death
Examples of 'postmortem' in a sentence
postmortem
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
They drove to a court to collect a report from a postmortem done hours earlier.
The Sun (2015)
Then a pathologist began an postmortem examination.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The defence said it would challenge the postmortem finding during the trial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police were awaiting the results of a postmortem yesterday.
The Sun (2011)
The spokeswoman added that postmortem examinations on the couple were due to be carried out tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It refused to make the postmortem results public.
The Sun (2016)
Detectives are awaiting the result of a postmortem to establish the cause of death.
The Sun (2016)
He urged others who suspected their dogs had been affected to let vets perform a postmortem examination.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Cops were last night awaiting results of a postmortem on the woman.
The Sun (2013)
He is also awaiting the results of a postmortem examination.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An inquest opened and adjourned yesterday heard that initial postmortem examinations on the men had proved inconclusive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
An inquest and postmortem examination will be carried out.
The Sun (2015)
The postmortem report found that she had died of a brain injury and it was regarded as an accident.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Three horses found dead at the scene have been examined and officers were awaiting the results of postmortem examinations.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Tests confirmed last night that he was infected with measles but a postmortem examination is yet to establish whether the disease killed him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Results from the postmortem examination are expected on Wednesday.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
At this stage the death is not thought to be suspicious, pending a postmortem examination.
The Sun (2015)
The victim has not been formally identified and detectives are waiting on results of a postmortem to find out the exact cause of death.
The Sun (2013)
A postmortem examination will be carried out today.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A postmortem examination showed the cause of death to be traumatic head injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Police said that there were no suspicious circumstances and the coroner was waiting for the results of a postmortem examination to establish the cause ofdeath.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Because it was viewed as suicide, German investigators did not conduct a postmortem examination.
The Sun (2010)
Synonyms of 'postmortem'
examination, analysis, autopsy, dissection
analysis, study, review, investigation
More Synonyms of postmortem
In other languages
postmortem
British English: postmortem NOUN
A post-mortem is a medical examination of a dead person's body in order to find out how they died.
A postmortem was carried out to establish the cause of death.
American English: postmortem
Brazilian Portuguese: autópsia
Chinese: 尸检
European Spanish: autopsia
French: autopsie
German: Obduktion
Italian: autopsia
Japanese: 検死
Korean: 부검
European Portuguese: autópsia
Latin American Spanish: autopsia
British English: post-mortem NOUN
A post-mortem is a medical examination of a dead person's body in order to find out how they died.
A postmortem was carried out to establish the cause of death.
American English: postmortem
Brazilian Portuguese: autópsia
Chinese: 尸检
European Spanish: autopsia
French: autopsie
German: Obduktion
Italian: autopsia
Japanese: 検死
Korean: 부검
European Portuguese: autópsia
Latin American Spanish: autopsia
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'postmortem'
post-mortem
A post-mortem is a medical examination of a dead person's body in order to find out how they died .
postmortem examination
dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
autopsia
dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
autopsies
dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
autopsy
An autopsy is an examination of a dead body by a doctor who cuts it open in order to try to discover the cause of death.
1 (noun)
Definition
medical examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death
A postmortem showed that he had drowned.
Synonyms
examination
analysis
They collect blood samples for analysis at the laboratory.
autopsy
The autopsy report gave the cause of death as poisoning.
dissection
the dissection of my proposals
necropsy
2 (noun)
Definition
analysis of a recent event
The postmortem on the presidential campaign is under way.
Synonyms
analysis
We did an analysis of the way they have spent money in the past.
study
the use of maps and visual evidence in the study of local history
review
a review on the training and education of over-16s
investigation
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
assessment
He was referred to a specialist for assessment.
examination
They have taken the documents away for examination.
breakdown
The organisers were given a breakdown of the costs.
evaluation
Evaluation is standard practice for the training course.
appraisal
Self-appraisal is never easy.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appraisal
Definition
an assessment of the worth or quality of a person or thing
Self-appraisal is never easy.
Synonyms
assessment,
opinion,
estimate,
judgment,
evaluation,
estimation,
sizing up (informal),
recce (slang)
in the sense of assessment
He was referred to a specialist for assessment.
Synonyms
judgment,
analysis,
determination,
evaluation,
valuation,
appraisal,
estimation,
rating,
opinion,
estimate,
computation
in the sense of autopsy
Definition
examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death
The autopsy report gave the cause of death as poisoning.
Synonyms
postmortem,
dissection,
postmortem examination,
necropsy
Nearby words of
postmortem
posterior
posterity
posthaste
postmortem
postpone
postponement
postscript
Synonyms of 'postmortem'
postmortem
Explore 'postmortem' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of breakdown
Definition
an analysis of something into its parts
The organisers were given a breakdown of the costs.
Synonyms
analysis,
classification,
dissection,
categorization,
detailed list,
itemization
in the sense of dissection
the dissection of my proposals
Synonyms
analysis,
examination,
breakdown,
research,
investigation,
inspection,
scrutiny
in the sense of evaluation
Evaluation is standard practice for the training course.
Synonyms
assessment,
rating,
judgment,
calculation,
valuation,
appraisal,
estimation
in the sense of investigation
Definition
a careful search or examination in order to discover facts
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
Synonyms
examination,
study,
inquiry,
hearing,
research,
review,
search,
survey,
analysis,
probe,
inspection,
exploration,
scrutiny,
inquest,
fact finding,
recce (slang)
in the sense of review
Definition
a general survey or report
a review on the training and education of over-16s
Synonyms
survey,
report,
study,
analysis,
examination,
scrutiny,
perusal
in the sense of study
Definition
an investigation and analysis of a particular subject
the use of maps and visual evidence in the study of local history