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

• accomplishment
• achievement
• commission
• discharge
• enactment
• execution
• fulfillment
• fulfilment
• implementation
• performance
• perpetration
• pursuance

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 first criminal prosecution of a former president in American history began Monday as Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, stands trial in New York. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Donovan fears that less prosecution will encourage organized crime groups trafficking marijuana to infiltrate sparsely populated states. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024

She too was booked into jail on charges of hindering prosecution and failing to report child abuse or neglect. —The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Hartfield was sentenced to 10 years for hindering prosecution and five years for conspiracy to hinder prosecution. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

There were moments when a courtroom observer might have been tempted to decry her prosecution as another way in which mothers still are expected to bear the bulk of the responsibility for parenting. —Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

Muslim truck drivers, waiters and tourists were swept into investigations, interrogations and prosecutions that almost invariably led to lesser convictions or, in some cases, fell apart. —Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

The third suspect was located Monday in El Mirage, was also booked in the juvenile court center and is facing hindering prosecution charges, the news release added. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

The most recent prosecution under this dormant law was in 1843. —The Editors, National Review, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prosecution

• testify for the defense/prosecution
• the prosecution

Kids 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