Dictionary
Definition
-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
post·mor·tem
ˌpōs(t)-ˈmȯr-təm
1
: done, occurring, or collected after death
postmortem tissue specimens
2
: following the event
1
2
: an analysis or discussion of an event after it is over
Synonyms
Examples of postmortem in a Sentence
Adjective
postmortem tests on the brain tissue of people who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Noun
A postmortem showed that the man had been poisoned.
Party leaders are conducting a postmortem of the election to try to find out what went wrong.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Spegele, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2022
The vertical occipital fasciculus, or VOF, is identified in a postmortem human brain in 1909, but labeled with a different name.
—
Jenny Blair, Discover Magazine, 1 Oct. 2015
New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2024
As well as debuts from artist Anne Marie Tendler, writer and owner of noodle company Umi Organic Lola Milholland, and TIME technology correspondent Andrew R. Chow, whose first book offers a fascinating postmortem on the state of crypto.
—
Shannon Carlin, TIME, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for postmortem ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-08-15--15-22-11-hrh2al/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
Adjective
In recent years, that has appeared in postmortem blood samples of drug users in Europe and the U.S.
—Noun
Cadaveric spasm, or postmortem spasm, occurs when a group of muscles that were engaged right before death become stiff and rigid.
—These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'postmortem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing postmortem
Dictionary Entries Near postmortem
Cite this Entry
“Postmortem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postmortem. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Kids Definition
postmortem
1 of 2 adjective
post·mor·tem
(ˈ)pōs(t)-ˈmȯrt-əm
: done or occurring after death
postmortem
2 of 2 noun1
: autopsy
2
: an analysis or discussion of an event after it is over
Medical Definition
postmortem
1 of 3 adjective
post·mor·tem
(ˈ)pōst-ˈmȯrt-əm
: done, occurring, or collected after death
postmortem tissue specimens
postmortem
2 of 3 noun
: autopsy
post-mortem
3 of 3 adverb
post-mor·tem
: after death
seven cases examined post-mortem
Legal Definition
post mortem
1 of 2 adjective
post mor·tem
ˌpōst-ˈmȯr-təm
: done, occurring, or collected after death
post mortem
2 of 2 noun
: autopsy
More from Merriam-Webster on postmortem
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about postmortem
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share