prosecution

American  

[pros-i-kyoo-shuhn] / ˌprɒs ɪˈkyu ʃən /

noun

1. Law.

   1. the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person.

   2. the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on.

2. the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.

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prosecution British  

/ ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of prosecuting or the state of being prosecuted

2. 1. the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a person

   2. the proceedings brought in the name of the Crown to put an accused on trial

3. the lawyers acting for the Crown to put the case against a person Compare defence

4. the following up or carrying on of something begun, esp with a view to its accomplishment or completion

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Other Word Forms

• nonprosecution noun

Etymology

Origin of prosecution

First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin prōsecūtiōn-, stem of prōsecūtiō “follow-up”; equivalent to prosecute + -ion

Example Sentences

Joel Smith KC, for the prosecution, said Djellal and Bouchadoe, were found inside the property, "one lying in the lounge across the patio threshold, one in an upstairs bedroom close to a window".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

It said it would not have been appropriate to take forward a prosecution due to the circumstances and "extremely vulnerable nature" of the owners.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

But under Heppner, a defendant who uses the same technology to prepare his own defense has created a road map the prosecution can seize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

And the sheriff had qualified immunity from the malicious prosecution claim because at the time Gonzalez was arrested, the 5th U.S.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

The judge finally told us that we were fishing after we'd made our ninth or tenth request for more police and prosecution files.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• government
• prosecutor