noun
cadaver
kuh-DAV-uh
Cadaver (noun) means a dead human body, especially one used for medical study or dissection. Example: “Medical students spent the semester studying a cadaver in the lab.”
noun
1
A dead human body, especially one used for medical study or dissection.
"“Then my first year of med school, we got our first cadavers, and there was so much data inside. You can be sure a patient will lie about how much they drink or how much they smoke, but with a cadaver, all the information is there.”"
— Raven Leilani, Luster (2020)
"Medical students spent the semester studying a cadaver in the lab."
"He and his best friend saw a cadaver and ran screaming."
How to use cadaver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, clinical word for a dead body, especially one used for study.
When to use it
Clinical and somewhat formal — "corpse" or "body" is more everyday.
Common pairings
cadaver lab
dissect a cadaver
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Word forms
- Plural
- cadavers, cadavera
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Medical students spent the semester studying a _____ in the lab.
Etymology
From Latin cadaver, "corpse," related to the verb cadere, "to fall."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cadaver
See all rhymes for cadaver →Frequently asked questions
What does “cadaver” mean?
The word “cadaver” means a dead human body, especially one used for medical study or dissection. In plain terms, a formal, clinical word for a dead body, especially one used for study.
How do you pronounce “cadaver”?
“Cadaver” is pronounced kuh-DAV-uh (/kəˈdævɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cadaver” in a sentence?
Here is “cadaver” used in a sentence: “Medical students spent the semester studying a cadaver in the lab.”
What part of speech is “cadaver”?
“Cadaver” is a noun.
Where does the word “cadaver” come from?
The word “cadaver” comes from Latin. From Latin cadaver, "corpse," related to the verb cadere, "to fall.".
