bertillon system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “bertillon system” mean?
A historical method of criminal identification using precise body measurements and physical descriptions, developed by Alphonse Bertillon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical method of criminal identification using precise body measurements and physical descriptions, developed by Alphonse Bertillon.
A pioneering, systematic approach to forensic science for identifying repeat offenders by recording anthropometric data, which was largely superseded by fingerprinting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Usage is identical in both varieties, as it is a fixed historical term.
Connotations
Historical, obsolete, foundational to modern forensic science.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American English, found primarily in academic or historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “bertillon system” in a Sentence
adopt + [the] Bertillon systemreplace + [the] Bertillon system + with + fingerprintingidentify + [a suspect] + using + the Bertillon systemVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bertillon system” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The police sought to bertillon the suspect, recording his ear shape and arm length.
- They had to bertillon every arrested individual.
American English
- The department decided to Bertillon the inmate, taking his full set of measurements.
- He was bertillonned upon his first arrest.
adjective
British English
- The Bertillon records were kept in a massive filing cabinet.
- It was a classic Bertillon identification procedure.
American English
- The Bertillon card contained eleven key measurements.
- They found the suspect through a Bertillon search.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts on criminology, forensic science, or the history of policing.
Everyday
Extremely rare to non-existent.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the specific historical identification technique.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bertillon system”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bertillon system”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bertillon system”
- Misspelling as 'Bertillion system' or 'Bertellon system'.
- Using it as a common noun without capitalisation (e.g., 'a bertillon system').
- Confusing it with modern biometric systems.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was developed by French police officer and biometrics researcher Alphonse Bertillon in the late 19th century.
It was largely replaced by fingerprinting (dactyloscopy) in the early 20th century because fingerprints were simpler to take, more unique, and less prone to measurement error or changes over time.
It typically included precise measurements of the head length and width, foot length, middle finger length, forearm length, and other skeletal features, along with notes on eye colour, scars, and other markings.
No, it is entirely obsolete as a primary identification method. It is only of historical interest, though its principle of systematic physical description influenced later forensic practices.
A historical method of criminal identification using precise body measurements and physical descriptions, developed by Alphonse Bertillon.
Bertillon system is usually technical / historical in register.
Bertillon system: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːtɪlɒn ˌsɪstəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːrt̬ɪlɑːn ˌsɪstəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BERTillon measured every paRT of the body' to create a systematic ID.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY AS A UNIQUE BARCODE (where specific measurements create a scannable identity).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary purpose of the Bertillon system?