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.

---

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

---

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

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.

Example Sentences

In January 2025, police closed their child abduction investigation, with a spokesperson saying Alex's family did not support it and there was "no realistic chance of prosecution".

From BBC • May 13, 2026

The prosecution on Friday asked the court for a remote link for Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence from King Lynn Magistrates' court.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The position allows Chaves to retain immunity from prosecution.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

It may be too much of a stretch to tie all these pieces of circumstantial evidence together to make a solid case for Rinderknecht’s prosecution, said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

This was a big one in the favor of Linton and the prosecution.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• government
• prosecutor