autopsy

IPA/ˈɔːtɒpsi/
KK[ˈɔtˌɑpsi]IPA/ˈɔːtɑːpsi/

autopsy — noun

  • autopsysingular
  • autopsiesplural

1. a medical procedure in which a pathologist opens up a dead person's body and exa

1.nounB2
Definition

a medical procedure in which a pathologist opens up a dead person's body and examines the internal organs to learn the reason for the death — typically done when the cause is not clear or when a crime may be involved

Example

The medical examiner performed an autopsy on the victim and discovered that he had been poisoned.

performed an autopsy

Haruto's family requested a second autopsy after the first report failed to explain his death.

Synonyms
  • post-mortem

    the same procedure, slightly less formal and more common in British English; also used metaphorically ('a post-mortem on the project')

  • necropsy

    the equivalent procedure performed on animals rather than humans

Usage Note

Common in medical and legal-investigation contexts. In everyday conversation, 'post-mortem' (or 'post-mortem examination') can be used instead, especially in British English. 'Autopsy' is used for human bodies — for animals, the correct term is 'necropsy.'

Common Mistakes

The vet performed an autopsy on the cat.
The vet performed a necropsy on the cat.
'Autopsy' is used for humans; 'necropsy' is the correct term for animals.

Word family

  • autopsied
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Autopsy, post-mortem, necropsy, and dissection all involve cutting open a body, but they differ in who or what the subject is and why the procedure is done. An autopsy is a formal medical procedure on a human body to determine the cause of death, usually performed by a pathologist or medical examiner. A post-mortem (short for post-mortem examination) means the same thing but is slightly less formal and more common in British English; it can also be used metaphorically, as in a 'post-mortem on a failed project.' Necropsy is the exact equivalent of autopsy but used only for animals. Dissection is the broadest term — it means cutting open any organism for study or education, not necessarily to find the cause of death. For example: 'The coroner ordered an autopsy on the suspicious death,' but 'The biology students dissected a frog to study its organs.'

post-mortemnecropsy ↗dissection ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • autopsy report
  • autopsy results
  • autopsy findings

Phrases

  • perform an autopsy
  • carry out an autopsy
  • conduct an autopsy
  • request an autopsy

Prepositions

  • autopsy of
  • autopsy on

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

From Greek 'autopsia' — 'autos' (self) + 'opsis' (sight) — literally meaning 'seeing with one's own eyes.' The word entered English in the 17th century via Latin and French, originally meaning personal observation. It later narrowed to refer specifically to medical examination of a corpse.