autopsy
noun
au·top·sy ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē 
ˈȯ-təp-
plural autopsies
1
: an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease
called also necropsy
2
: a critical examination, evaluation, or assessment of someone or something past
autopsy transitive verb
Synonyms
- necropsy
- postmortem
- postmortem examination
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The coroner performed an autopsy on the murder victim's body. the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer
Recent Examples on the Web Powell's body was transported to Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. 
Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Wilson’s body is being taken to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy. I.c. Murrell, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2022 They agency brought in criminal experts to examine the site and then sent the man’s body to the capital, Brasília, for an autopsy. Flávia Milhorance, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 The State Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy. Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 The Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to conduct an autopsy on Thursday. Angelina Hicks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The 70-year-old's body is set to be flown to Nassau within the next day where authorities will conduct an autopsy to determine his cause of death, police said. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2022 His body will be flown to New Providence for an autopsy. Doha Madani, NBC News, 16 Aug. 2022 Authorities said Bueker's death is being investigated as an accidental drowning, but his body is being sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Wilson’s body is being taken to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy. I.c. Murrell, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2022 They agency brought in criminal experts to examine the site and then sent the man’s body to the capital, Brasília, for an autopsy. Flávia Milhorance, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 The State Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy. Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 The Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to conduct an autopsy on Thursday. Angelina Hicks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The 70-year-old's body is set to be flown to Nassau within the next day where authorities will conduct an autopsy to determine his cause of death, police said. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2022 His body will be flown to New Providence for an autopsy. Doha Madani, NBC News, 16 Aug. 2022 Authorities said Bueker's death is being investigated as an accidental drowning, but his body is being sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Greek autopsia act of seeing with one's own eyes, from aut- + opsis sight, appearance — more at optic
First Known Use
1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
autopsy 1 of 2
noun
au·top·sy ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē ˈȯt-əp-
ˈȯt-əp- plural autopsies
: an examination of the body after death usually with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease
called also necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination
autopsy
2 of 2transitive verb
autopsied; autopsying
: to perform an autopsy on
Legal Definition
autopsy
noun
au·top·sy ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, -təp-
plural autopsies
: an examination of a body after death usually involving dissection especially to determine the cause of death
called also post mortem, post mortem examination
autopsy
noun
as in dissection
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dissection
- postmortem
- necropsy
- postmortem examination
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- biopsy
- vivisection