prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈprä-si-ˌkyü-tər 

1

: a person who institutes a prosecution before a court

2

: prosecuting attorney

Examples of prosecutor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yoni Barrios, 34, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder and terrorism charges as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty for a series of stabbings on the Las Vegas Strip that left two people dead and six injured. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 2 Feb. 2025

During the exchange, prosecutors said DeLisa expressed skepticism about her chances of landing the job, which upset her. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025

Witnesses also recognized Coleman in music videos posted on YouTube after the shooting, prosecutors said. —Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025

The new administration already has fired more than a dozen prosecutors who pursued criminal charges against Trump in two cases that have been dismissed. —Sarah N. Lynch, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈpräs-i-ˌkyüt-ər 

: a person (as a district attorney) who prosecutes especially a criminal case as lawyer for the state

Legal Definition

prosecutor

noun

pros·​e·​cu·​tor ˈprä-si-ˌkyü-tər 

1

: a person who institutes a prosecution (as by making an affidavit or complaint charging the defendant)

2

: a government attorney who presents the state's case against the defendant in a criminal prosecution