prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən 
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
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
The commission also approved spending of $1 million in staffing additions to support both prosecution and defense in this high-profile case.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Her prosecution drew comparisons to the case against Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of a blood testing company, Theranos, that collapsed amid fraud allegations.
—CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Comey’s legal team can point to a long line of past statements from Trump targeting the FBI director and calling for his prosecution.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
Blair faced a private war crimes prosecution, but the British high court ruled to block it in 2017.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Her prosecution drew comparisons to the case against Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of a blood testing company, Theranos, that collapsed amid fraud allegations.
—CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Comey’s legal team can point to a long line of past statements from Trump targeting the FBI director and calling for his prosecution.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
Blair faced a private war crimes prosecution, but the British high court ruled to block it in 2017.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
Cite this Entry
“Prosecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosecution. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌpräs-i-ˈkyü-shən
1
: the act or process of prosecuting
especially
: the bringing and continuance of a criminal case
2
: the one bringing charges of crime against a person being tried
especially
: the state's lawyers in a criminal case
Legal Definition
prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən
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
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