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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for prosecution
Synonyms
- accomplishment,
- achievement,
- commission,
- discharge,
- enactment,
- execution,
- fulfillment
- (or fulfilment),
- implementation,
- performance,
- perpetration,
- pursuance
Antonyms
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web But Britain stripped Kotey and Elsheikh of their British citizenship and expressed reservations about a prosecution there.
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Rachel Weiner, Anchorage Daily News, "Two ISIS militants charged in deaths of James Foley and other American hostages in Syria," 7 Oct. 2020 In his mid-30s, Perry hadn’t handled a spoofing prosecution.
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Tom Schoenberg, Bloomberg.com, "Inside the JPMorgan Trading Desk the U.S. Called a Crime Ring," 28 Sep. 2020 Martin was eventually arrested at the library in Markham and charged as a fugitive fleeing prosecution.
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Barnini Chakraborty, Fox News, "Kentucky man accused of dismembering ex-girlfriend, taking body parts in suitcases to Chicago," 17 Sep. 2020 On Wednesday, former Missouri lawmaker Bruce Franks Jr., 35, who now lives in Arizona, filed a $2.4 million claim against Phoenix saying that his arrest during a demonstration in August was political prosecution meant to discourage further protests.
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Uriel J. Garcia, The Arizona Republic, "Phoenix chief says she's making changes to police culture, responds to criticism," 11 Sep. 2020 But French citizens do have the right to stop medical care, and under French law there is no prosecution for suicide.
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Gaëlle Fournier, Martin Goillandeau And Sara Spary, CNN, "Facebook stops French man streaming his dying days," 6 Sep. 2020 Last month, prosecutors filed a deferred prosecution against ComEd in a massive bribery case alleging the company paid a cadre of lobbyists and consultants to curry favor with House Speaker Michael Madigan.
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Jason Meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Former red light camera executive who wore FBI wire could see bribery charges dismissed in deal with prosecutors," 4 Sep. 2020 Absent a criminal prosecution, lawsuits are often the only way families or the public get to see video evidence in such cases in Alabama.
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Ashley Remkus | Aremkus@al.com, al, "Assistant police chief shot and killed his neighbor, who had just survived brain surgery," 30 Aug. 2020 Keith has a role to play on the path toward any possible reform; a prosecution, activists believe, would be an important first step.
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Ben Terris, Washington Post, "Americans want justice for George Floyd. Keith Ellison is in charge of getting it.," 18 June 2020
See MoreThese 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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More Definitions for prosecution
prosecution
nounEnglish 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
nounpros·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
nounpros·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
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Time Traveler for prosecution
The first known use of prosecution was in 1545
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