prosecution

noun

pros·e·cu·tion | \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən

Definition of prosecution

1 : the act or process of prosecuting specifically : the institution and continuance of a criminal suit involving the process of pursuing formal charges against an offender to final judgment

2 : the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted

3 obsolete : pursuit

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about prosecution

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Examples of prosecution in a Sentence

There has been an increase in prosecutions for gun-related crimes. The defendant is awaiting prosecution. The prosecution called their first witness. The prosecution rests, Your Honor. The defense told the jury that the prosecution had not proved its case.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most states also have laws that protect people who call 911 to report an overdose from arrest or prosecution if law enforcement finds small amounts of drugs or paraphernalia at the scene. — Tessie Castillo, SELF, "Here’s How to Use the Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug Naloxone," 26 July 2018 Judges, prosecutors and public defenders are pushing for tighter restrictions on federal immigration officers inside New York courthouses, saying fear of deportation is making immigrants less willing to report crimes and assist with prosecutions. — Kate King, WSJ, "New York Judges, Lawyers Want ICE Officials Out of Courts," 10 Apr. 2019 These Moroccan converts often celebrate Masses in their homes and hide their religious affiliations for fear of prosecution and arrest. — Amira El Masaiti, The Seattle Times, "Pope tells Moroccans “we are brothers and sisters”," 31 Mar. 2019 Any such prosecution would then go before a judge, which may be a legal battle EA is looking for. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, "EA defies Belgian loot box decision, setting up potential “gambling” lawsuit," 11 Sep. 2018 State prosecutions assisted by federal authorities have resulted in additional convictions, most recently when a one-time Alabama state trooper was convicted of shooting a black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, during a protest in 1965. — Jay Reeves, BostonGlobe.com, "Government probing ‘new information’ in Emmett Till slaying," 12 July 2018 That’s been a theme of President Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who has written that presidents should be immune from criminal investigations, civil suits or prosecution while in office. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Trump’s Supreme Court nominee: Rulings favor more power to the president," 11 July 2018 Johnson is the prosecutor who helped a couple of trigger-happy Glynn County cops avoid prosecution in the sickening 2010 shooting death of Caroline Small, an unarmed mother trapped in her car after a slow-speed chase. — Bill Torpy, ajc, "Torpy at Large: Something stinks in Brunswick, and it ain’t paper mills," 11 July 2018 And the country loses when the President’s focus is distracted by the burdens of civil litigation or criminal investigation and possible prosecution. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "A Watershed Moment in American History," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prosecution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near prosecution

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Last Updated

30 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for prosecution

The first known use of prosecution was in 1545

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More Definitions for prosecution

prosecution

noun

English Language Learners Definition of prosecution

: the act or process of holding a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty

: the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is accused of a crime is guilty : the lawyer or lawyers who prosecute someone in a court case

formal : the act of doing or continuing to do something

See the full definition for prosecution in the English Language Learners Dictionary

prosecution

noun

pros·e·cu·tion | \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən

Kids Definition of prosecution

1 : the act of carrying on a legal action against a person accused of a crime in court

2 : the lawyers in a criminal case trying to prove that the accused person is guilty The prosecution will try to prove it was murder.

prosecution

noun

pros·e·cu·tion | \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən

Legal Definition of prosecution

1 : the act or process of prosecuting especially : the institution and carrying on of a criminal action involving the process of seeking formal charges against a person and pursuing those charges to final judgment

2 : the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted — compare defense sense 3, plaintiff