crowner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / ArchaicHistorical / Legal / Literary
Quick answer
What does “crowner” mean?
An archaic term for a coroner, an official who investigates deaths.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic term for a coroner, an official who investigates deaths.
A coroner; specifically, a public official whose primary duty is to enquire into the cause of any death that is violent, sudden, or unnatural.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both British and American English use "coroner" as the standard modern term. "Crowner" is an equally archaic term in both varieties and would not be understood in contemporary legal or everyday contexts.
Connotations
Historical, Shakespearean, rustic, obsolete.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. It appears almost exclusively in references to Shakespeare or in historical novels set in England.
Grammar
How to Use “crowner” in a Sentence
the crowner + verb (e.g., sat, held, enquired)possessive + crowner (e.g., the king's crowner)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical or literary studies, e.g., analysis of Shakespeare's plays.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday language.
Technical
Obsolete in modern legal/medical terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crowner”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crowner”
- Using 'crowner' in contemporary writing or speech.
- Confusing it with 'crow' or 'crown' as separate words.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'crowner' is an archaic term. The modern and correct term is 'coroner.'
It derives from Anglo-Norman 'corouner' and Middle English 'corour,' meaning an officer of the Crown. The 'crowner' spelling reflects an older pronunciation.
It is most famous from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act V, Scene 1, where a gravedigger uses the term.
Absolutely not. Using 'crowner' would be considered incorrect and archaic. Always use the standard term 'coroner.'
An archaic term for a coroner, an official who investigates deaths.
Crowner is usually historical / legal / literary in register.
Crowner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkraʊnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraʊnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'The crowner's quest law' - the inquest held by a coroner (archaic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CROWN a king wears; a 'crowner' was historically a CROWN official representing royal authority to investigate deaths.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A CROWN (the official derives power from the crown/monarchy).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern equivalent of the archaic term 'crowner'?