prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən 
1
: the act or process of prosecuting
specifically
: the institution and continuance of a criminal suit involving the process of pursuing formal charges against an offender to final judgment
2
: the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted
3
obsolete
: pursuit
Examples of prosecution in a Sentence
There has been an increase in prosecutions for gun-related crimes.
The defendant is awaiting prosecution.
The prosecution called their first witness.
The prosecution rests, Your Honor.
The defense told the jury that the prosecution had not proved its case.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Attorney General’s memo making immigration prosecutions a top priority fits a pattern throughout the Trump administration.
—
Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
France’s statute of limitations restricts rape prosecutions to 30 years after the victim reaches adulthood, meaning about 80 people were not included in the case, Satta said.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
In the early Cold War, the Western powers increasingly preferred to shelve war crimes prosecutions in order to fortify West Germany as an anti-Soviet bulwark.
—Gary J. Bass, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Mangione's state case is slated to go to trial before a parallel prosecution on federal charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
France’s statute of limitations restricts rape prosecutions to 30 years after the victim reaches adulthood, meaning about 80 people were not included in the case, Satta said.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
In the early Cold War, the Western powers increasingly preferred to shelve war crimes prosecutions in order to fortify West Germany as an anti-Soviet bulwark.
—Gary J. Bass, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Mangione's state case is slated to go to trial before a parallel prosecution on federal charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
Cite this Entry
“Prosecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosecution. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌpräs-i-ˈkyü-shən
1
: the act or process of prosecuting
especially
: the bringing and continuance of a criminal case
2
: the one bringing charges of crime against a person being tried
especially
: the state's lawyers in a criminal case
Legal Definition
prosecution
noun
pros·e·cu·tion
ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən
1
: the act or process of prosecuting
especially
: the institution and carrying on of a criminal action involving the process of seeking formal charges against a person and pursuing those charges to final judgment
2
: the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted compare defense sense 3, plaintiff
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