forensic

adj

1. (not-comparable)Relating to the use of science and technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law.

   “In this account of events, the cards were stacked against Clemons from the beginning. His appeal lawyers have argued that he was physically beaten into making a confession, the jury was wrongfully selected and misdirected, and his conviction largely achieved on individual testimony with no supporting forensic evidence presented.”

   “Fire investigators […] and forensic chemists are combing through fire sites [the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing], interviewing witnesses, and following leads.”

2. (dated, not-comparable)Relating to, or appropriate for, courts of law; suitable or adapted to legal argumentation.

   “Varus trusted implicitly […] to the interest which they affected to take in the forensic eloquence of their conquerors.”

   “Mr. Philips’ incredulous sniff was a triumph of forensic skill.”

3. (informal, not-comparable)Precise, thorough, or highly meticulous, by analogy with a scientific legal investigation.

   “A forensic account of history”

   “With forensic precision”

   “It [the judiciary] had been the forum before which the highest forensic discussions had been held, […]”

4. (not-comparable)Relating to forms of disability associated with criminal risk.

   “a forensic learning disability”

   “patients with forensic needs”

5. (archaic, not-comparable)Relating to, or used in, debate or argument.