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
He was later acquitted at trial and sued the Biden DOJ for $4.3 million, alleging excessive force and politically motivated prosecution.
—
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which made the arrest and controls the jail, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which is overseeing Lopez’s prosecution, did not reply to messages seeking comment.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Abrego Garcia is a Salvadorian migrant who was erroneously deported to El Salvador before being returned to the U.S. to face federal prosecution on charges of trafficking undocumented migrants and conspiring with others to do so.
—Greg Wehner , Bill Mears, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
Last May, Paul struck a deal with Miami prosecutors that sent him to pre-trial drug diversion as an alternative to prosecution.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which made the arrest and controls the jail, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which is overseeing Lopez’s prosecution, did not reply to messages seeking comment.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Abrego Garcia is a Salvadorian migrant who was erroneously deported to El Salvador before being returned to the U.S. to face federal prosecution on charges of trafficking undocumented migrants and conspiring with others to do so.
—Greg Wehner , Bill Mears, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
Last May, Paul struck a deal with Miami prosecutors that sent him to pre-trial drug diversion as an alternative to prosecution.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 June 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 1 Jul. 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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