prosecutor

[ pros-i-kyoo-ter ]

noun

1. Law.
   1. prosecuting attorney.
   2. a person, as a complainant or chief witness, instigating prosecution in a criminal proceeding.
2. a person who prosecutes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosecutor¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin prōsecūtor “pursuer”; prosecute, -tor

Example Sentences

Over the last year, the San Diego Police Department has written more than 150 tickets, but city prosecutors have yet to file charges.

From Voice of San Diego

Plofchan argued that the federal prosecutors didn’t address the two issues pending before the court — whether Caldwell, an ailing 66-year-old, is a flight risk or a danger to the community.

From Washington Post

Federal prosecutors are considering whether to file sedition charges against some of the accused rioters, the Associated Press reported.

From Washington Post

If he won his race to become top prosecutor in Bradford County, he allegedly told her, he could make her DUI charge go away.

From Washington Post

They appealed, and in 1972 a court overturned the convictions in a decision that criticized conduct by the judge and the prosecutor.

From Washington Post

Prosecutor Alessandro Leopizzi wasted no time in repeating the transcript to ask Schettino to confirm his words.

From The Daily Beast

Prosecutor Michael Guarino has since publicly apologized to Biafra.

From The Daily Beast

The Prosecutor and the Snitch By Maurice Possley - The Marsall Project Did Texas execute an innocent man?

From The Daily Beast

The special operations unit provided cover for unarmed Berkut, acting Deputy Prosecutor General Aleksey Baganets told reporters.

From The Daily Beast

Prosecutor Renee Hrivnak recommended probation, not jail time—surely part of the plea deal as well.

From The Daily Beast

The agents of the Public Prosecutor never came there for food for the guillotine.

From Project Gutenberg

The Public Prosecutor regarded this as libellous, and actually brought an action for libel against the philanthropic gentleman.

From Project Gutenberg

The gentleman thereupon wrote to the Public Prosecutor, blaming him for not having taken action on the first occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

The Public Prosecutor, the colonel of the gendarmes, and the governor of the prison were impatiently awaiting us.

From Project Gutenberg

This last filled out a response to an imaginary indictment of an officious Crown-Prosecutor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adversary
• agent
• antagonist
• attacker
• bandit
• competitor
• criminal
• detractor
• foe
• guerrilla
• invader
• murderer
• opponent
• opposition
• rebel
• rival
• spy
• terrorist
• traitor
• villain