prosecute

American  

[pros-i-kyoot] / ˈprɒs ɪˌkyut /

verb (used with object)

prosecuted, prosecuting

1. Law.

   1. to institute legal proceedings against (a person).

   2. to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.

   3. to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.

2. to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.

   to prosecute a war.

3. to carry on or practice.

   Synonyms:

   conduct, execute, discharge, perform

---

verb (used without object)

prosecuted, prosecuting

1. Law.

   1. to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.

   2. to act as prosecutor.

prosecute British  

/ ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

1. (tr) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence

2. (intr)

   1. to seek redress by legal proceedings

   2. to institute or conduct a prosecution

3. (tr) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)

4. (tr) to continue to do (a task, etc)

---

Other Word Forms

• nonprosecutable
  adjective
• prosecutability
  noun
• prosecutable
  adjective
• quasi-prosecuted
  adjective
• reprosecute
  verb (used with object)
• well-prosecuted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prosecute

1400–50; late Middle English prosecuten to follow up, go on with < Latin prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

To prosecute is to participate in or pursue something to completion, like a government’s intention to prosecute a war. Prosecute is most often used for bringing legal action against an accused person or group. Prosecute comes from the Latin, “prosesutus,” meaning “follow after.” The legal sense of the word first appeared in the 1570s. A district attorney will often prosecute, by bringing legal charges and action against a person or group (watch any TV legal drama, and the prosecution will no doubt prosecute eventually). A company may prosecute by suing to protect against damages. Prosecute should not be confused with the word persecute, which means to harass or oppress.

Example Sentences

If the CPS does decide to prosecute, any trials are unlikely to begin before 2029.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

There’s a simple way to lower healthcare costs without requiring Americans to bear unacceptable trade-offs: prosecute Medicaid fraud and put the recovered funds back into citizens’ pockets.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

No relevant precedent existed, and given the unique crimes the Nazi hierarchy had committed, it would require ex post facto laws to prosecute them.

From Salon • May 18, 2026

Todd Spitzer has vowed to prosecute parents who allow their children to ride e-motorcycles, or modify e-bikes to function as such, calling the devices a “loaded weapon.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Whenever I forget to take the chicken out of the freezer, she lectures me—and then proceeds to prosecute me for forgetting to turn in my language arts essay.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• arraign
• indict
• litigate
• sue
• summon
• try