autopsy
UK: ˈɔːtɒpsi | US: ˈɔːtɑːpsi
n. a medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
n. a detailed analysis or evaluation of something after it has ended
autopsy = auto<self> + opsy<seeing>
- auto: from Greek autos (self), meaning "pertaining to oneself."
- opsy: from Greek opsis (seeing/view), referring to visual examination.
Etymology Origin:
The term autopsy originates from Greek autopsia ("seeing with one's own eyes"), combining auto- (self) and -opsy (sight). Initially, it described firsthand observation. By the 17th century, it narrowed to its modern medical sense—a surgeon "seeing for themselves" the cause of death through direct examination. The logic reflects a shift from general observation to specialized postmortem analysis.
The coroner performed an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Historians conducted an autopsy of the failed policy to understand its flaws.
The autopsy report revealed previously undetected injuries.
Without an autopsy, the mystery surrounding his sudden death remained unsolved.
She likened her project review to an autopsy, dissecting every mistake.