forensic

English

WOTD – 3 September 2008

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin forēnsis (of the forum, public), from forum (forum, marketplace).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fəˈɹɛn.zɪk/, /fəˈɹɛn.sɪk/
  • (file)
    ,
    (file)
  • (file)

Adjective

forensic (not comparable)

  1. Relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law.
    • 2012 August 21, Pilkington, Ed, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:
      In this account of events, the cards were stacked against Clemons from the beginning. His appeal lawyers have argued that he was physically beaten into making a confession, the jury was wrongfully selected and misdirected, and his conviction largely achieved on individual testimony with no supporting forensic evidence presented.
    • 1996, 8 June, Bill Clinton, Weekly Presidential radio Address,
      Fire investigators [] and forensic chemists are combing through fire sites [the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing], interviewing witnesses, and following leads.
  2. (dated) Relating to, or appropriate for, courts of law.
    • 1885, Isaac N. Arnold, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Chapter VIII,
      It [the judiciary] had been the forum before which the highest forensic discussions had been held, []
  3. (archaic) Relating to, or used in, debate or argument.

Synonyms

  • (Related or appropriate for a court of law): legal
  • (Related or used in debate and argumentation): rhetorical

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

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