forensic science

IPA/fəˌren.zɪk ˈsaɪ.əns/
IPA/fəˌren.zɪk ˈsaɪ.əns/

forensic science — noun

1. the use of scientific knowledge and laboratory methods to study physical evidenc

1.nounB2
Definition

the use of scientific knowledge and laboratory methods to study physical evidence from crimes, in order to identify those involved and understand what happened

Example

Emre studied forensic science at a local college and now works in a crime lab.

uncountable noun used as a field of study

The forensic science team spent three hours collecting hair samples from the bedroom carpet.

forensic science team — collective noun modifier

Common collocations
  • forensic science laboratory
  • forensic science course
  • forensic science team
  • forensic science technique
  • forensic science evidence
  • advances in forensic science
  • study forensic science
  • use forensic science
Synonyms
  • criminology

    the study of crime and criminal behaviour as a social science, not the lab analysis of physical evidence

  • criminalistics

    the specialized laboratory analysis of physical evidence; a narrower, more technical term used within the profession

Usage Note

Frequently used as a modifier before another noun (forensic science laboratory / forensic science course). The shorter form forensics is common in informal and media contexts.

Common Mistakes

The police used forensic science to arrest the man.
The police used forensic science to find evidence linking the man to the crime.
Forensic science identifies evidence; arrest is a legal step that follows.

Word family

  • forensic
    adjectiveB2
  • forensics
    nounB2
  • forensically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Forensic science is the broadest term, covering any application of scientific methods (biology, chemistry, physics) to legal questions — especially crime-solving. Criminology is a separate social science that studies the causes of crime, criminal behaviour, and society's response to it; a criminologist rarely works in a lab. Criminalistics is the narrowest term: the specific lab analysis of physical evidence such as fingerprints, DNA, and ballistics. Forensics is the informal short form, used widely in TV shows and conversation to mean the same as forensic science. For example: 'She studied criminology to understand why people commit crimes,' but 'The forensic science team used DNA profiling to match the suspect to the scene.'

forensic science ↗criminologycriminalistics ↗forensics

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • advances in forensic science
  • the field of forensic science

Prepositions

  • in forensic science
  • of forensic science

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word forensic comes from the Latin word forum, meaning a public square or marketplace where courts were held in ancient Rome. Science comes from the Latin scientia, meaning knowledge. The two words were first combined in the early 1800s as scientific methods began to be used in court cases.