prosecutor
Americannoun
-
Law.
-
a person, as a complainant or chief witness, instigating prosecution in a criminal proceeding.
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
When You Reach Me
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ghost Boys
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The attorney general’s office has not responded to questions about whether it received the complaint or whether it would hire a special prosecutor to investigate it, given that it involves the attorney general himself.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Asked by a prosecutor if she was embarrassed by her past relationship, she replied, “He was a friend. And I regret being a friend to him.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Saying that the investigation, which was not made public, did not conclusively prove any wrongdoing, the lawyers alleged that if Khan were removed from his job, "every future prosecutor will understand the lesson."
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The prosecutor, Kevin Sullivan, said the reporters weren’t targets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Objection!” the prosecutor exclaimed as soon as she recognized it as an e-mail she’d written to a friend.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Investigations conducted by prosecutors and securities regulators often result in no action.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Texts displayed in court Monday show Burke continued to send messages to Hernandez’s phone hours after the Uber arrived, which, according to prosecutors, were an attempt to suggest she’d never arrived at his house.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
An investigating judge is still reviewing a similar request by prosecutors to send Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat Chrysler -- now part of Stellantis -- to trial.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The decision came after a five-day preliminary hearing, in which Los Angeles prosecutors questioned a dozen witnesses and displayed photographic evidence as 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's family watched on.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Both Congress and Watergate prosecutors asked Nixon for the tapes.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
