GC: n
S: NCBI (last access: 18 December 2025); SU (last access: 16 December 2025).
N: 1. “scientific study of death,” 1837, from thanato– “death” + -logy. By 1889 as “a doctrine of or a discourse on death.” Related: Thanatological. In 1970s, some undertakers made a bid to be called thanatologists; but from 1974 that word has been used principally in reference to specialists in the needs of the terminally ill. There also is an isolated use of it from 1901.
2. thanatology, the description or study of death and dying and the psychological mechanisms of dealing with them. Thanatology is concerned with the notion of death as popularly perceived and especially with the reactions of the dying, from whom it is felt much can be learned about dealing with death’s approach. Thanatology (from Greek thanatos, “death”) as a professional discipline gathered momentum following the publication of several subject-related books including The Meaning of Death (1959), edited by Herman Feifel, and The Psychology of Death (1972) by Robert Kastenbaum and Ruth Aisenberg. Generally, psychologists have agreed that there are two overall concepts concerning death that help in understanding the simultaneous processes of living and dying. The “my death versus your death” concept emphasizes the irrational belief that while “your death” is a certainty, an exemption may be made in “my case.” The second concept, “partial deaths versus total extinction” stresses the belief that by experiencing the bereavement following the deaths of friends and relatives, a person is brought as close as possible to realizing “partial death.” These experiences colour the individual’s attitude toward greater personal losses, culminating with the ultimate loss, life itself.
3. Sociology of Medicine; Biological Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences: thanatology.
- … the science of death and dying.
- Thanatology involves a broad spectrum of scientific and technical disciplines (medicine, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, entomology, etc.) and social sciences (anthropology, sociology, psychology, religions, law, ethics, etc.), to address all aspects of death, dying and after-death (e.g. thanatopraxis practices).
4. Diagnostic Procedures (Medicine); Law of Evidence; Health Law: thanatology.
- The medicolegal study of death and conditions affecting dead bodies.
5. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention
S: 1. Etymonline (last access: 18 December 2025). 2. EncBrit (last access: 18 December 2025). 3 & 4. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 18 December 2025). 5. Amazon (last access: 18 December 2025).
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CR: autopsy, biopsy, corpse, crime, forensic medicine forensics, forensic science, homicide, medical examiner, medicine, mummification, murder, putrefaction.
