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 Duke of York is also reportedly never attempting to re-enter the US due to his fear of arrest or prosecution.
—
Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
Importantly, these prosecutions don’t extend to the workers, Dolette says.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Iran gets to safely operate, through Hezbollah, in the West without prosecution, and Maduro and his officials get paid well.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
China remains the world’s top source of counterfeit products, even as authorities ramp up prosecutions.
—Haicen Yang, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
Importantly, these prosecutions don’t extend to the workers, Dolette says.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Iran gets to safely operate, through Hezbollah, in the West without prosecution, and Maduro and his officials get paid well.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
China remains the world’s top source of counterfeit products, even as authorities ramp up prosecutions.
—Haicen Yang, CNN Money, 5 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 13 Sep. 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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