autopsy

[ aw-top-see, aw-tuhp- ]

noun

, plural au·top·sies.

1. inspection and dissection of a body after death, as for determination of the cause of death; postmortem examination.
2. an analysis of something after it has been done or made.

verb (used with object)

, au·top·sied, au·top·sy·ing.

1. to perform an autopsy on.

autopsy

/ ɔːˈtɒp-; ˈɔːtəpsɪ /

noun

1. Also callednecropsypostmortem examination dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
2. an eyewitness observation
3. any critical analysis

autopsy

/ ô′tŏp′sē /

1. A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study pathologic changes.

Other Words From

• autop·sist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

1645–55; (< Middle French autopsie ) < Greek autopsía a seeing with one's own eyes, equivalent to aut- aut- + óps ( is ) -opsis + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

C17: from New Latin autopsia, from Greek: seeing with one's own eyes, from auto- + opsis sight

Example Sentences

Relatives of the friend refused to accept she died of natural causes and an autopsy found traces of cyanide in her body.

From BBC

Neither a cause of death nor any autopsy details were disclosed.

From Los Angeles Times

This summer, Martthew Perry’s autopsy reported he died from the “acute effects of ketamine,” putting into question how the drug is regulated.

From Salon

Representatives for Di’Anno said Monday they had since received permission from the singer’s family to reveal the results of his autopsy.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’d love to sit back and think about the autopsy and where you move from there, but I think I still feel as though I’m in that moment of vertigo to some extent.”

From Salon

Related Words

• postmortem