forensic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'forensic' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the use of science and technology to investigate a crime or legal matter. For example: The police used forensic techniques to identify the perpetrator of the crime.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is intended to cut costs and speed up criminal trials by building what the police refer to as "appropriate case files" that contain the minimum forensic evidence needed to secure a conviction.

The Guardian

The London Criminal Justice Partnership sees the approach as a way to head off the belt-and-braces approach sometimes taken in ordering forensic tests by police officers and prosecutors second guessing the defence.

The Guardian

The thousands of images were taken between 2011 and 2013, and according to forensic analysis depict 11,000 deaths.

The Guardian

Smyth, who may or may not have just abruptly quit Madness (of which more later), has just finished recording his debut solo album, A Comfortable Man, a forensic account of the death of his 28-year relationship with his wife.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He was allowed to maintain that stance pretty well unimpeded, thanks to the much-noted lack of forensic precision from the inquiry team.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The forensic pathologist then writes his or her report, which will be passed on to the forensic scientist, if necessary.

The Guardian - Money

These exhibits are then passed on to forensic scientists to examine in the laboratory.

The Guardian - Money

So although we do work together, it's not the way it's portrayed on CSI or Silent Witness, say, where they play a large part of the forensic investigation team".

The Guardian - Money

Sheridan made A-level choices designed to get her on the right track, choosing chemistry, biology and German, only to discover later that she had been "slightly misinformed" as the handful of undergraduate degrees in forensic science all required mathematics.

The Guardian - Money

You don't need a forensic scientist degree to get into the profession, but an undergraduate science degree is an important starting point, and gaining professional scientific experience is also extremely beneficial.

The Guardian - Money

It actually worked well – it gave me a sound understanding of science and I went on to specialise with an MSc in forensic science at Strathclyde University".

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "forensic" can refer to both the scientific investigation of evidence and, less commonly, to matters relating to debate or courts of law. Ensure the intended meaning is clear from the context.

Common error

A common mistake is using "forensic" to describe general investigative or analytical processes that do not involve scientific or technical methods within a legal context. Reserve "forensic" for scenarios where scientific principles are applied to legal matters.

Linguistic Context

The word "forensic" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a connection to courts of law or the application of scientific methods to legal matters. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "forensic" is widely used to denote a relationship to courts of law or the application of scientific methods to legal investigations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, supported by numerous examples in news, business, and scientific contexts. While it can also relate to debate, this usage is less common. When using "forensic", ensure its meaning aligns with scientific or legal contexts, avoiding its application in generalized analytical scenarios. The term is versatile, appearing in various sources, but its formal nature requires mindful usage. The semantic scope has close alternatives like "criminalistics" or "forensic science" to better pinpoint its specific meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forensic science

This refers to the application of scientific methods and techniques to legal matters.

forensic analysis

This indicates the analytical aspect of applying scientific principles to legal contexts.

criminalistics

Focuses on the scientific analysis of physical evidence in criminal cases.

crime scene investigation

Describes the specific process of investigating a crime scene.

legal

This term refers to something related to law, generally encompassing a wider scope than just scientific evidence.

evidentiary

Focuses specifically on evidence, omitting the scientific or investigative aspect.

judicial

Refers to courts of law or the administration of justice.

investigative

Emphasizes the process of investigation, rather than the scientific or legal connection.

scientific

Highlights the application of scientific methods, but not necessarily in a legal context.

rhetorical

Relates to debate or argumentation, a less common meaning of "forensic".

FAQs

How is "forensic" typically used in a sentence?

The word "forensic" is commonly used as an adjective to describe something related to the application of scientific or technical methods to investigate crimes or legal matters. For example, "forensic evidence" or "forensic analysis".

What's the difference between "forensic science" and criminalistics?

"Forensic science" is the overarching field encompassing all scientific disciplines applied to legal matters, while "criminalistics" specifically focuses on the analysis of physical evidence in criminal cases.

Can "forensic" be used in contexts outside of crime investigations?

Yes, although less common, "forensic" can also relate to courts of law or debate and argumentation. However, its primary and most recognized usage relates to scientific investigations in legal contexts.

What are some examples of fields within "forensic science"?

Examples include forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, "forensic anthropology", forensic entomology, and forensic psychology, each applying specialized scientific knowledge to legal investigations.