Definition of "thanatology" [than•a•tol•o•gy]

• The study of death and dying, especially in their psychological and social aspects. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "'thanatology', haven't see that word used since Heinlein died, which is what will happen to all of us if we don't get it together folks!"
• "She founded the palliative medical field of music -- thanatology and the Chalice of Repose Project, which trains teachers in palliative music vigils with the dying."
• "Using personal experience or anecdote instead of research to guide treatment has been a big problem with applied thanatology all along."