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Human autopsies are generally performed either to determine the cause of death or to observe the deadly effects of a disease for research or education purposes. Autopsies may be necessary when tracking an epidemic; they're also performed to discover whether a death might actually have resulted from murder, and if so, what evidence it might reveal that could help catch the murderer. Animal necropsies are actually more common than human autopsies, since a farmer with livestock is always concerned that whatever killed one animal not pose a threat to the others.
Examples of necropsy in a Sentence
Rebekah Riess, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Whale carcass towed to shore, necropsy scheduled After its discovery, the administration's fisheries and partners towed the whale to shore for a necropsy.
—USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
In addition, the unruly owl experienced exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, DDE, a compound of chemicals that are used to kill rodents within New York City, the necropsy said.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Still, the department will perform a necropsy to learn as much as possible about the mountain lion that died.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024
The fin whale underwent a necropsy on Feb. 13 and results were pending at the time of the aquarium’s post.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2024
Flaco was declared dead shortly after and transferred to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024
This doesn’t necessarily mean the shark’s death was fishing-related — a necropsy is currently underway — but it is being considered as a potential cause of death.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 28 Feb. 2024
The necropsy was under way by Friday afternoon, and — with an animal that large — involved a team of more than 10 people.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
Max Chesnes, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Jan. 2023
Thanks to @MassDFG @A_WhiteShark and @GregSkomal for recovering this juvenile white #shark and coordinating with us to necropsy it.
—Steve Annear, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022
The dog weighed only four pounds and died of extreme starvation, according to the U of I necropsy findings.
—Naperville Sun Staff Report, chicagotribune.com, 8 Nov. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'necropsy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
necr- + -opsy (in autopsy), probably after French nécropsie
Verb
derivative of necropsy entry 1
Dictionary Entries Near necropsy
Cite this Entry
“Necropsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necropsy. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
necropsy
noun
Medical Definition
necropsy
1 of 2 noun
necropsy
2 of 2 transitive verb
More from Merriam-Webster on necropsy
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about necropsy
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