prosecution

noun pros·e·cu·tion \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Examples: prosecution in a Sentence

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

See prosecution defined for English-language learners

See prosecution defined for kids

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 of prosecution from the Web

The deputy chief state’s attorney for operations oversees a number of divisions including the statewide prosecution bureau, the cold case bureau and the appellate and civil litigation bureaus, according to the posting.

— nicholas rondinone, courant.com, "Five Vie For Deputy Chief State's Attorney Job," 12 July 2018
This year the prosecution service began training its first intake of female investigating magistrates.

— The Economist, "Saudi women want more sway in religious affairs," 12 July 2018
Much of the prosecution’s case was based on testimony of Kevin Schuler, a former LPCiminelli vice president who had pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government.

— benjamin weiser, New York Times, "Architect of Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion Project Is Convicted in Bid-Rigging Scheme," 12 July 2018
The case was prosecuted by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation’s prosecution unit embedded in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

— news reports, Houston Chronicle, "Deer Park man sentenced for worker’s comp fraud," 10 July 2018
Thompson, 24, testified as a prosecution witness about Perez’s negative attitudes toward Muslims.

— john maccormack, San Antonio Express-News, "Accused mosque burner’s own words part of trial," 10 July 2018
At the most recent Manafort hearing in Virginia, Weissmann was not seated at the prosecution table.

— catherine herridge, Fox News, "Manafort filing unmasks DOJ meeting with AP reporters, questions if 'grand jury secrecy' violated," 9 July 2018
Such a witness would fill in a gap in the prosecution’s case.

— jeff amy, The Seattle Times, "Judge won’t sanction prosecutor over inmate tampering claim," 9 July 2018
The insurance information was a large part of the prosecution case, which asserted Rudd killed his bride for money.

— george houde, chicagotribune.com, "Donnie Rudd's future after guilty verdict in wife's '73 death: Prison — and another murder charge?," 8 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.

First Known Use of prosecution

1545

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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prosecution Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

PROSECUTION Defined for English Language Learners

prosecution

noun

Definition of prosecution for English Language Learners

: 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 prosecution : 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
: the act of doing or continuing to do something

PROSECUTION Defined for Kids

prosecution

noun pros·e·cu·tion \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən \

Definition of prosecution for Students

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.

Law Dictionary

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 3, plaintiff