forensics
fuh-REN-siks
/fəˈrɛnsɪks/
Scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime; in computing, the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices.
Implies a rigorous, scientific investigation after a crime has occurred.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'forensis,' meaning 'of the forum.' In ancient Rome, the forum was where public debates and legal trials took place. 'Forensics' literally means 'suitable for a court of law.'
Word relationships
- investigation: Investigation is general; forensics is specifically scientific and legal.
Word family
- forensic (adjective): Relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods to the investigation of crime.
Collocations
- digital forensics
- forensic evidence
- forensic analysis
Example sentences
- "Digital forensics experts were able to recover deleted emails that proved the suspect's involvement in the fraud." A description of a digital investigation.
- "The candidate must have experience in network forensics and incident response." A job description for a security role.
Memory hook
Forensics = For the forum (the court). Science for the court.
When not to use
Don't use it for simple troubleshooting; it implies a legal or criminal context.
Fun facts
- Digital forensics can often recover data from a hard drive even if it has been physically damaged or partially melted.
Related words
Explore more words
forensic, investigative, reconstruct, trace, ballistics, toxicology
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