adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/fəˈɹɛn.zɪk/
/fəˈɹɛn.sɪk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:F ER0 EH1 N S IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:F AO2 R EH1 N S IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Relating to, or appropriate for, courts of law; suitable or adapted to legal argumentation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Precise, thorough, or highly meticulous, by analogy with a scientific legal investigation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, not-comparable
Examples
A forensic account of history
With forensic precision
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Relating to forms of disability associated with criminal risk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
a forensic learning disability
patients with forensic needs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Relating to, or used in, debate or argument.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
used or applied in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
forensic photograph
forensic ballistics
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
of, relating to, or used in public debate or argument
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin forēnsis (“of the forum, public”) + -ic, from forum (“forum, marketplace”).
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
جِنائِيّ
(jināʔiyy)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Catalan:
forense
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Chinese Mandarin:
法醫的 /法医的
(fǎyī de)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Czech:
forenzní
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Dutch:
forensisch
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Dutch:
gerechtelijk
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Dutch:
gerechts-
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Finnish:
rikostekninen
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Finnish:
oikeuslääketieteellinen
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
French:
médicolégal
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
French:
légal (in médecine légale)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
French:
forensique
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
German:
forensisch
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Greek:
δικανικός
(dikanikós)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Greek:
εγκληματολογικός
(egklimatologikós)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Hungarian:
törvényszéki
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Hungarian:
igazságügyi
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Icelandic:
réttar-
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Italian:
medico-legale
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Japanese:
法医学の
(hōigaku no)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Marathi:
न्यायवैद्यकीय
(nyāyvaidyakīy)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Polish:
kryminalistyczny
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Polish:
sądowy
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Portuguese:
forense
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Russian:
суде́бно-медици́нский
(sudébno-medicínskij)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Russian:
суде́бный
(sudébnyj)
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Spanish:
forense
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Swedish:
forensisk
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Turkish:
adli
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Vietnamese:
pháp y
— relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
Armenian:
դատական
(datakan)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Bulgarian:
съдебен
(sǎdeben)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Chinese Mandarin:
法庭的
(fǎtíng de)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Dutch:
gerechtelijk
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Finnish:
oikeudellinen
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
French:
légal
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
French:
juridique
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
German:
gerichtlich
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
German:
Gerichts-
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Greek:
δικανικός
(dikanikós)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Greek:
εγκληματολογικός
(egklimatologikós)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Italian:
giudiziario
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Japanese:
法廷の
(hōtei no)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Marathi:
न्यायवैद्यकीय
(nyāyvaidyakīy)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Polish:
sądowy
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Portuguese:
forense
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Russian:
суде́бный
(sudébnyj)
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Spanish:
legal
— relating to, or appropriate for courts of law
Chinese Mandarin:
辯論的 /辩论的
(biànlùn de)
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Dutch:
retorisch
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Finnish:
oikeudellinen
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
French:
de barreau
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
French:
rhétorique
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
German:
rhetorisch
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Greek:
ρητορικός
(ritorikós)
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Italian:
legale
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Japanese:
討論の
(tōron no)
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Japanese:
弁論の
(benron no)
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Polish:
oratorski
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Portuguese:
retórico
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Russian:
ритори́ческий
(ritoríčeskij)
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Spanish:
retórico
— relating to, or used in debate or argument
Vietnamese:
biện luận
— relating to, or used in debate or argument