prosecution
Americannoun
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Law.
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the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person.
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the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on.
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the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.
noun
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the act of prosecuting or the state of being prosecuted
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the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a person
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the proceedings brought in the name of the Crown to put an accused on trial
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the lawyers acting for the Crown to put the case against a person Compare defence
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the following up or carrying on of something begun, esp with a view to its accomplishment or completion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of prosecution
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin prōsecūtiōn-, stem of prōsecūtiō “follow-up”; equivalent to prosecute + -ion
Explanation
You know the lawyers who try to make the jury believe the guy on trial for stealing the bananas actually stole the bananas? That team of lawyers is known as the prosecution. The entire process of trying to convict someone of a crime is known as the prosecution, and if convicted, you may face prosecution. Any words with the root prosecute are connected to trying to prove someone’s guilt. You might often hear about "the prosecution's case" — that's their evidence. Or you might hear about a "prosecution witness" — someone who is supposed to tell jury members something that will convince them of the defendant's guilt.
Vocabulary lists containing prosecution
The Bill of Rights
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Twelve Angry Men
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The Bill of Rights
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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.
Atkins’ trial began May 11, and ran for 19 days of witness testimony and presentation of evidence that was almost entirely put on by the prosecution.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
The prosecution said that this showed that the attackers were being funded by others, through Hemroc Ltd and Stana's sister.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
Pauken’s guilty plea follows other U.S. prosecution victories against American citizens accused of working for the Chinese government without proper disclosure.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
By all accounts, Kelver’s perception of threat was reasonable, which—by Wyoming law—should exempt her from criminal prosecution.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
The court rebuffed the prosecution and the gallery murmured its approval.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
