prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈprä-si-ˌkyü-tər 

1

: a person who institutes a prosecution before a court

2

: prosecuting attorney

Examples of prosecutor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mexican prosecutors said in a statement, that the gunmen were targeting a rival drug dealer on the beach and fled after the barrage of bullets. —Janay Reece, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

The officer stood by his actions and says he was scapegoated by prosecutors. —James Scholz, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2026

The indictment seeks the forfeiture of numerous financial accounts linked to the Rosens and their company, as well as their La Jolla home, which prosecutors allege was purchased with the proceeds of the fraud scheme. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

In a court filing Friday, prosecutors said their central witness is now nowhere to be found. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prosecutor

• persecutor
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer
• supercomputer
• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter

Kids Definition

prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈpräs-i-ˌkyüt-ər 

: a person (as a district attorney) who prosecutes especially a criminal case as lawyer for the state

Legal Definition

prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈprä-si-ˌkyü-tər 

1

: a person who institutes a prosecution (as by making an affidavit or complaint charging the defendant)

2

: a government attorney who presents the state's case against the defendant in a criminal prosecution