Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
post mortem en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌpoʊs(t)ˈmɔɹtəm/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˌpəʊs(t)ˈmɔːtəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Latin post (“afterwards”) + mortem, from mors (“death”).
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) After death.
The hospice's standard procedure for post mortem room cleaning looks very thorough.
-
(not-comparable) Having been inflicted or having occurred after death.
The post mortem timeline is incomplete.
We shouldn't let these post mortem injuries distract us while looking for the cause of death.
Forms
Antonyms
prehumous · antemortem · premortem · anthumous · predeath
Coordinates
perimortem
Synonyms
post obitum · posthumous
post mortem en · ADV
Pronunciation
- /ˌpoʊs(t)ˈmɔɹtəm/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˌpəʊs(t)ˈmɔːtəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Latin post (“afterwards”) + mortem, from mors (“death”).
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Occurring after death.
The injuries were found to have been caused post mortem.
Forms
Antonyms
antemortem · anthumously · premortem · prehumously
Coordinates
perimortem
Synonyms
posthumously · post obitum
Translations (13)
el μετά θάνατον (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · hy հետմահու (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · eo postmorta (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · pl post mortem (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · fa پس از مرگ (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · uk посме́ртно (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · pl pośmiertnie (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · nl post mortem (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · ru посме́ртно (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · ms pascanilai (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · hi मरणोत्तर (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · fi kuolemanjälkeinen (occurring after death — see also posthumously) · bg посмъртен (occurring after death — see also posthumously)
post mortem en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌpoʊs(t)ˈmɔɹtəm/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˌpəʊs(t)ˈmɔːtəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Latin post (“afterwards”) + mortem, from mors (“death”).
Meanings
-
An investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death.
Nor had the post mortem on Newson's body revealed any illness or other physical condition that might have prevented him from applying the brake, although after four days in the oven-like heat of the wreckage, the body was so badly decomposed as to make any reliable post mortem results unlikely.
2025 February 19, Mike Lewis, “Tragedy at Moorgate”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 59, about the Moorgate tube crash:
-
(figuratively) Any investigation after the conclusion of an activity, particularly when said activity produces an unwanted outcome.
Grinspoon finishes with some sage advice on the best way to avoid greening out: "Keep the doses low and know yourself. If it happens to you, try to do a postmortem on what happened, like: 'Was there alcohol involved? Was there nicotine involved?' Was I overtired? Did I take five puffs when I usually take two puffs?'"
2022 April 20, Ross Buchanan, “Why You Sometimes Feel Sick or Vomit After Smoking Weed”, in VICE, archived from the original on 16 Feb 2026:Each user-visible outage or SLA violation should be followed by a postmortem and conclude with implementation of the recommendations in the postmortem report.
2014 September 3, Thomas A. Limoncelli, Strata R. Chalup, Christina J. Hogan, The Practice of Cloud System Administration (Designing and Operating Large Distributed Systems; 2), Addison-Wesley, page 300:After a serious delay there is often a post mortem on what happened, but this is usually in-house.
2019 October, Ian Walmsley, “Cleaning up”, in Modern Railways, page 44:
-
(UK, obsolete, qualifier:university slang) At Cambridge, a second examination for those who were "plucked" or failed in the first.
Forms
Coordinates
premortem · antemortem · perimortem
Deriveds
post mortem auctoris · pre-mortem · inquisition post mortem
Relateds
post mortem auctoris · have the drains up
Synonyms
PM · AAR · autopsy · debriefing
Translations (28)
fa گذشتهسنجی (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · sv obduktion (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · fi jälkipyykki (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · hy դիահերձում (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · fa کالبدگشایی (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · nl post mortem (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · cmn 屍體解剖 /尸体解剖 (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ja 検視 (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · cmn 屍檢 /尸检 (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · hi शवपरीक्षा (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ja 解剖 (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ru аутопси́я (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · el ιατροδικαστική έκθεση νεκροτομής (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · bg аутопсия (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ms pascanilai (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · sw uchunguzi wa maiti (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · fi jälkipuinti (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · fi ruumiinavaus (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ja 反省会 (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · cmn 驗屍 /验尸 (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ru вскры́тие (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · ru постмортем (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · hi पोस्टमार्टम (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · el νεκροψία (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · it autopsia (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · fi kuolinsyyn selvitys (investigation of a corpse to determine the cause of death; an autopsy) · fa پسکاوی (investigation after something considered unsuccessful) · fi jälkiselvittely (investigation after something considered unsuccessful)