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

King County prosecutors charged 33 people with crimes for the May 2025 riot at UW. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

In August, prosecutors in Minnesota were seeking the extradition of Christian Castro, an ICE agent being held in Texas, who was wanted for shooting a Venezuelan national in the leg during Operation Metro Surge. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

At that hearing, prosecutors noted that Nunnally was suspected of a third slaying, but noted he hadn’t been charged with that case at the time. — William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Kitchens said Monday that prosecutors had filed a weapons charge against the high school student. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 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