prosecutor
Americannoun
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prosecutors
plural
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Law.
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a person, as a complainant or chief witness, instigating prosecution in a criminal proceeding.
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a person who prosecutes.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of prosecutor
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin prōsecūtor “pursuer”; see prosecute, -tor
Compare meaning
How does prosecutor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
On a TV crime drama or in real life courts, the prosecutor is the person who brings criminal charges against a suspect. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for a state or government organization and is responsible for starting legal proceedings and then proving in court that the suspect committed the crime he’s accused of. The opposite of a prosecutor is a defense attorney. So on that TV crime drama, the prosecutor is the one trying to put the bad guy in jail, and the defense attorney is the one trying to prove that the guy really isn’t a bad guy.
Vocabulary lists containing prosecutor
Monster
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When You Reach Me
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Ghost Boys
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta's algorithms had directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about the risks to young people.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
But he faced a zealous prosecutor, with only court-appointed attorneys at his side.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
While the case was largely managed by assistant U.S. attorney Caelainn Carney, according to court transcripts, Faruqui was aiming his frustration at her bosses, including senior prosecutor Jonathan R. Hornok, and the leadership at DOJ.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Amid gasps and sobbing from the public gallery, prosecutor Steven Ball outlined the "chaotic" conditions inside the parlour, including how mould was seen on coffins and both excrement and bodily fluids on floors.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
It was now clear why the doctors had summoned not the sheriff or a prosecutor but Bill Smith’s personal attorney.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
In 2015, he handed them over to the Libyan Attorney General's Office, who gave a copy of the confession to prosecutors from Scotland's Crown Office two years later.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Federal investigations can carry on for years before prosecutors decide whether to press charges or simply close the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
The charges against Flores stemmed from a June 8, 2025, protest in downtown L.A., where prosecutors said he “participated in a riot” on the Main Street overpass of the 101 Freeway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Pirro’s team blamed the Interior Department for the flub, saying it had misled prosecutors about the pool.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
More than anything else, it was the lack of concern and responsiveness by police, prosecutors, and victims' services providers that devastated Mozelle and Onzelle.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
