adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or suitable for a law court, public debate, or formal argumentation
2. specializing in or having to do with the application of scientific, esp. medical, knowledge to legal matters, as in the investigation of crime

Etymology: < L forensis, public < forum (see forum) + adj. suffix -ensis + -ic

noun

1. debate or formal argumentation
2. the use of knowledge and techniques derived from various sciences, as ballistics and medicine, in the investigation of crime