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 Education Department's announcement also stated that Maine has 10 days to meet a list of demands, or the case will be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.
—
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
The youngest is too young for criminal prosecution, police said.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Some of the bills also propose removing clauses from state laws that protected pregnant people seeking abortions from prosecution.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
And far from reining Israel in, Trump has floated relocating Gaza’s population, abolished Biden’s sanctions regime targeting violent Israeli settlers, and sanctioned the International Criminal Court over its prosecution of Israel.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
The youngest is too young for criminal prosecution, police said.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Some of the bills also propose removing clauses from state laws that protected pregnant people seeking abortions from prosecution.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
And far from reining Israel in, Trump has floated relocating Gaza’s population, abolished Biden’s sanctions regime targeting violent Israeli settlers, and sanctioned the International Criminal Court over its prosecution of Israel.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 18 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 28 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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