noun
coroner
KO-ruh-nuh
noun
1
An official who investigates and rules on the cause of unexplained or violent deaths.
"The coroner ruled the death accidental."
"A coroner ordered an inquest into the factory explosion."
How to Use Coroner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe official who determines how and why someone died, especially in sudden or suspicious cases.
Common pairings
coroner's report
coroner's inquest
county coroner
Word Forms
coroners plural
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The _____ ruled the death accidental.
Etymology
From Old French curuner, ultimately from Medieval Latin for "guardian of the crown's pleas" — the role began as a way of protecting the king's legal and financial interests.