prosecute

verb

pros·​e·​cute ˈprä-si-ˌkyüt 

prosecuted; prosecuting

transitive verb

1

: to follow to the end : pursue until finished

prosecute a war

2

: to engage in : perform

3

a

: to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law

b

: to institute legal proceedings with reference to

prosecute a claim

intransitive verb

: to institute and carry on a legal suit or prosecution

prosecutable

ˌprä-sə-ˈkyü-tə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Prosecute vs. Persecute

Take care to distinguish between prosecuted and persecuted, although we sincerely hope that neither word applies to you. Persecute typically has a small range of meanings, such as “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict.” Although the word is occasionally found in dialectal use to mean “prosecute,” many usage guides consider this to be an error. Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to follow to the end” or “to engage in.” If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.

Synonyms

• accomplish
• achieve
• bring off
• carry off
• carry out
• commit
• compass
• do
• execute
• follow through (with)
• fulfill
• fulfil
• make
• negotiate
• perform
• perpetrate
• pull off
• put through

Examples of prosecute in a Sentence

The store's owner agreed not to prosecute if the boy returned the stolen goods.

The case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney.

She criticized the government for the way it has prosecuted the war.

Recent Examples on the Web

The United Nations World Court must prosecute Israel for the crime of failing to protect vulnerable humans who live in its territory. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Gil Garcetti says at a news conference that anyone helping Simpson flee will be prosecuted as a felon. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

And Hobbs has issued an executive order that removes county attorneys' ability to prosecute providers for performing abortions. —Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

The court suggested doctors can be prosecuted under the Civil War-era law, though the opinion written by the court’s majority did not say that. —Bill Barrow, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024

White House officials and lawmakers used the announcement as a springboard to propose legislation to provide more funding for anti-fraud enforcement, extend the statute of limitations on prosecuting crimes, and to improve government databases to better detect when payments should not be made. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

Store security and local police have sometimes treated runners as small-time annoyances and booted them from stores, rather than arresting and prosecuting them, according to Parks. —Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2024

Smith told the court in his filing that the Constitution doesn't establish a rule requiring such action by Congress before a former president can be prosecuted. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024

Assistant District Attorney Gilbert Sawtelle, a chief in the district attorney's office's Child Fatality Section, prosecuted Hooey and said child abusers often work to hide signs of abuse by keeping children away from other adults or dressing them to cover the injuries. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin prosecutus, past participle of prosequi to pursue — more at pursue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

prosecute

verb

pros·​e·​cute ˈpräs-i-ˌkyüt 

prosecuted; prosecuting

1

: to follow up to the end : keep at

prosecute a war

2

: to carry on a legal action against an accused person to prove his or her guilt

prosecutable

-ˌkyüt-ə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

prosecute

verb

pros·​e·​cute ˈprä-si-ˌkyüt 

prosecuted; prosecuting

transitive verb

1

: to institute and carry forward legal action against for redress or especially punishment of a crime

2

: to institute and carry on a lawsuit with reference to

an action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest

—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 17(a)

intransitive verb

: to institute and carry on a civil or criminal action

decided not to prosecute

prosecutable

ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-tə-bəl 

adjective

Etymology

Latin prosecutus, past participle of prosequi to pursue