the prosecution
noun
: the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is accused of a crime is guilty : the lawyer or lawyers who prosecute someone in a court case
The prosecution called their first witness.
The defense told the jury that the prosecution had not proved its case.
—often used before another nounprosecution attorneys/lawyers
Examples of the prosecution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those conclusions rely heavily on unnamed government cooperators, including Hernandez Reyes, who will be spared deportation in exchange for his role as a key witness in the prosecution.
—
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
In the second, with the prosecution presenting its strongest single case, 12 white men needed only four hours to pronounce Henry Sweet not guilty.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The Herald previously reported that special prosecutor Hank Brennan, who led the prosecution in Read’s second trial earlier this year, was paid a total of $566,000 for his work.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
When the state attorney’s office steps in, the prosecution pushes back, resulting in a legal and political tug of war that thrusts Adnan’s case into chaotic uncertainty.
—Peter White, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the prosecution
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
In the second, with the prosecution presenting its strongest single case, 12 white men needed only four hours to pronounce Henry Sweet not guilty.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The Herald previously reported that special prosecutor Hank Brennan, who led the prosecution in Read’s second trial earlier this year, was paid a total of $566,000 for his work.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
When the state attorney’s office steps in, the prosecution pushes back, resulting in a legal and political tug of war that thrusts Adnan’s case into chaotic uncertainty.
—Peter White, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the prosecution
Cite this Entry
“The prosecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20prosecution. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share