fo·ren·sic
fə-ˈren(t)-sik 
-ˈren-zik
-ˈren-zik
1
: belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate
a lawyer's forensic skills
2
: argumentative, rhetorical
forensic eloquence
3
: relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems
forensic medicine
forensic science
forensic pathologist
forensic experts
1
: an argumentative exercise
2
forensics
fə-ˈren(t)-siks
-ˈren-ziks
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the art or study of argumentative discourse
3
forensics plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems
especially
: scientific analysis of physical evidence (as from a crime scene)
Did you know?
The noun forensic, meaning “an argumentative exercise” derives from the adjective forensic, whose earliest meaning in English is “belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts or to public discussion and debate.” The English word was derived from a Latin word forensic meaning “of the market place or form, public,” which in turn comes from the Latin word forum, meaning “market place, forum.”
Examples of forensic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aja Romano, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
But through forensic genetic genealogy, Bygd said investigators tracked down Jon Miller, 84, at his apartment in Owatonna, Minnesota.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Nicholas Rice, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Experts in digital forensics can apply nuanced judgment that AI cannot yet replicate, ensuring accuracy and reliability in high-stakes situations.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for forensic 
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Adjective
If there’s little forensic evidence tying Allen to the crime, then the abundance of alternate suspects could present a gold mine for his defense.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
But through forensic genetic genealogy, Bygd said investigators tracked down Jon Miller, 84, at his apartment in Owatonna, Minnesota.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
Dempsey plays Miami Metro Homicide Captain Aaron Spencer and Gellar, 47, portrays Tanya Martin, the CSI chief at the Miami Metro Police Department and Dexter’s new boss at a forensics internship.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Experts in digital forensics can apply nuanced judgment that AI cannot yet replicate, ensuring accuracy and reliability in high-stakes situations.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for forensic
Dictionary Entries Near forensic
Cite this Entry
“Forensic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forensic. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
forensic
adjective
fo·ren·sic
fə-ˈren(t)-sik
-ˈren-zik
-ˈren-zik
: relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems especially in regard to criminal evidence
a forensic pathologist
forensic experts
… a forensic technique of DNA analysis allows for the determination of whether a subject with a specific genetic profile has contributed to aggregate genomic data.—Kathy L. Hudson, The New England Journal of Medicine
Kathy L. Hudson, The New England Journal of MedicineLegal Definition
forensic
adjective
fo·ren·sic
fə-ˈren-sik, -zik
1
: belonging to, used in, or suitable to the courts or to public discussion and debate
2
: relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge (as of medicine or linguistics) to legal problems
forensic pathology
forensic experts
forensically
adverb
Etymology
Adjective
Latin forensis public, forensic, from forum forum
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