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

Over the past several months, prosecutors have failed to secure felony indictments in multiple cases. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which investigated the case, may take separate administrative action regarding the men’s future hunting privileges, prosecutors said. —Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026

The move comes after federal prosecutors announced in mid-December that 14 programs in the state contained fraud, adding those programs cost Minnesota taxpayers $18 billion since 2018. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025

Former federal prosecutor David Weinstein said the 2010 grand jury subpoena date on the form was likely a typo or error. —Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025

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