thanatology

From thanato- +‎ -logy, from Ancient Greek θάνατος (thánatos, “death”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /θan.əˈtɒl.əd͡ʒ.i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌθæ.nəˈtɑl.əd͡ʒ.i/
• Rhymes: -ɒlədʒi

thanatology (usually uncountable, plural thanatologies)

1. The scientific study of death and the practices associated with it, including the study of the needs of the terminally ill and their families.
   • 2022 May 17, Elizabeth Preston, “Elephants in Mourning Spotted on YouTube by Scientists”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     The work is part of a growing field called comparative thanatology — the study of how different animals react to death.

• (health care specifically) end-of-life care, palliative care