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

Fernandes says teaming up with federal prosecutors to bring harsher federal drug charges has helped bring down the number of drug dealers in the park. — Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

State prosecutors have accused Mangione’s lawyers of trying to get that case thrown out on double jeopardy grounds under New York State law, which says a defendant can’t be tried twice for the same crime. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

State prosecutors could attempt to argue that the charges in the state case -- including second-degree murder -- are different from the federal stalking charges, so the double jeopardy protections should not apply. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Christian explains that Mangione might plead guilty first with federal prosecutors versus state because his federal charges are more severe and don’t have the option for parole. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 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