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
Gracias told the crowd that, amid their review of systems inside the SSA, the team had referred to law enforcement targets for prosecution.
—
Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
The defense and prosecution teams called more than 65 witnesses during Read’s first murder trial, including family members of O’Keefe, forensic experts and police investigators.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
People worry that an insurance company might buy it and use the data to withhold coverage; or that it could be used for genetic profiling to discriminate against people based on health or demographic characteristics; or it might be shared with law enforcement for prosecutions.
—Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
In a lengthy statement, Watson thanked Trump and reiterated that he had been targeted for prosecution by competitors.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
The defense and prosecution teams called more than 65 witnesses during Read’s first murder trial, including family members of O’Keefe, forensic experts and police investigators.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
People worry that an insurance company might buy it and use the data to withhold coverage; or that it could be used for genetic profiling to discriminate against people based on health or demographic characteristics; or it might be shared with law enforcement for prosecutions.
—Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
In a lengthy statement, Watson thanked Trump and reiterated that he had been targeted for prosecution by competitors.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 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 8 Apr. 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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