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
Synonyms of prosecution
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
Wexner emailed Epstein on June 26, 2008, after a plea deal was announced that would require him to serve 18 months in a Florida jail on a state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor in order to avoid federal prosecution.
—
Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
But its domestic political scene remains deeply polarized and fractious, with presidents on both sides of the political divide often facing calls for impeachment, criminal investigations and prosecution.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has appealed the dismissal of those prosecutions.
—Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Brown raised the bond after finding that Boyne attempted to harass or intimidate prospective state witnesses by surreptitiously photographing a prosecution witness list in court and directly, or with assistance from supporters, emailing the list, with questions, to the witnesses.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
But its domestic political scene remains deeply polarized and fractious, with presidents on both sides of the political divide often facing calls for impeachment, criminal investigations and prosecution.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has appealed the dismissal of those prosecutions.
—Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Brown raised the bond after finding that Boyne attempted to harass or intimidate prospective state witnesses by surreptitiously photographing a prosecution witness list in court and directly, or with assistance from supporters, emailing the list, with questions, to the witnesses.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
Cite this Entry
“Prosecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosecution. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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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