What does autopsy mean?
An autopsy is a thorough medical examination of a dead body, carried out by a specially trained physician known as a pathologist, in order to establish the cause of death or to investigate the presence and extent of disease. The procedure involves both external inspection and careful internal examination of the organs, and its findings are recorded in an official document called an autopsy report. Autopsies are central to forensic medicine, helping to resolve questions about suspicious deaths, accidents, and unexplained illness. The word derives from the Greek 'autopsia', meaning 'seeing with one's own eyes', reflecting the idea of direct personal observation rather than relying on second-hand accounts. Beyond medicine, the term has acquired a figurative use: journalists and analysts speak of conducting an 'autopsy' on a failed project, a lost election, or a collapsed company, meaning a rigorous post-mortem analysis of what went wrong. This blend of scientific precision and metaphorical reach makes 'autopsy' a distinctive and widely understood word in both professional and everyday contexts.
A surgical dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death or the nature of pathological change.
"The hospital pathologist completed the autopsy within hours of receiving consent."
Also used figuratively for any exhaustive after-the-fact analysis.
To perform an autopsy on a body; to examine a corpse systematically in order to determine the cause of death.
"The veterinary team will autopsy the whale to identify the source of its infection."
Less common than the noun; used mainly in professional medical and forensic contexts.
Standard plural formation, following ordinary English rules.
"The laboratory performs several hundred autopsies each year."
The word 'autopsy' literally means 'seeing for yourself' in ancient Greek — long before it ever meant cutting open bodies, philosophers used it to describe witnessing the truth with your own eyes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of autopsy
The word 'autopsy' comes directly from the ancient Greek 'autopsia', formed from 'autos' (self) and 'opsis' (sight), and originally meant 'seeing with one's own eyes'. It entered Latin as 'autopsia' and was adopted into English around the early 17th century, initially retaining this philosophical sense of firsthand observation before coming to denote the medical examination of a corpse. It shares roots with other words built from Greek sight-terms, such as 'optic', and with words from 'autos', such as 'autonomy' and 'automatic'.
How autopsy is actually used
In American usage, 'autopsy' typically refers specifically to human post-mortem examinations, while 'necropsy' is preferred for animals; British English uses 'post-mortem' more commonly for humans. The figurative sense ('an autopsy of the campaign') is informal but well established in journalism.
Easily confused with autopsy
A biopsy examines tissue taken from a living person, whereas an autopsy examines a body after death.