Apparent drowning is a term used when someone is found dead in water, and it appears that they drowned, but the official cause of death has not yet been determined. It is used when there is not enough information to confirm that drowning was the actual cause of death, and a proper investigation and/or autopsy has yet to be performed. In the case of Matthew Perry, his death was initially reported as an apparent drowning because he was found in his homes hot tub, and it appeared that he drowned. However, the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and further investigation is needed to determine the actual cause of death.

Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. It can be fatal and is considered a difficult diagnosis to confirm in human forensic medicine. The World Health Organization defines drowning as "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid". There are different types of drowning, including active drowning, passive drowning, and silent drowning.

Certain factors can increase the risk of drowning, such as using hot tubs at water temperatures above normal body temperature, drinking alcohol while or before soaking in hot water, and taking certain medications. It is important to take precautions to stay safe in water, such as avoiding alcohol and drugs, learning to swim, and wearing life jackets when boating or participating in water sports.