forensic
adj/fəˈɹɛn.zɪk/ · /fəˈɹɛn.sɪk/
Etymology From Latin forēnsis (“of the forum, public”) + -ic, from forum (“forum, marketplace”).
1
Relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law.
- forensic analysis; forensic examination; forensic evidence; forensic investigation; forensic pathologist
- 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.2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:
1 more example
- Fire investigators […] and forensic chemists are combing through fire sites [the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing], interviewing witnesses, and following leads.1996 June 8, Bill Clinton, Weekly Presidential radio Address:
2
Dated Relating to, or appropriate for, courts of law; suitable or adapted to legal argumentation.
- Varus trusted implicitly […] to the interest which they affected to take in the forensic eloquence of their conquerors.1851, Edward Shepherd Creasy, “Chapter V”, in The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World:
- Mr. Philips’ incredulous sniff was a triumph of forensic skill.1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 164:
3
Informal Precise, thorough, or highly meticulous, by analogy with a scientific legal investigation.
- A forensic account of history
- With forensic precision
1 more example
- It [the judiciary] had been the forum before which the highest forensic discussions had been held, […]1885, Isaac N. Arnold, “Chapter VIII”, in The Life of Abraham Lincoln:
4
Relating to forms of disability associated with criminal risk.
- a forensic learning disability
- patients with forensic needs
5
Archaic Relating to, or used in, debate or argument.
- Synonyms
- Related, appropriate for a court of law, rhetorical
- Derived terms
- antiforensic, bioforensic, cyberforensic, forensic accountancy, forensic accountant, forensic accounting, forensically, forensicate, forensic biology, forensic engineering, forensicist, forensic linguistics, forensic medicine, forensics, forensic science, paleoforensic, phytoforensic, unforensic
- Related terms
- forensal, forensical, forensive