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
Once fraudulent returns are processed and refunds disbursed, recovery becomes extremely difficult, and prosecutions are rare compared to the volume of fraud.
—
Quora, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
President Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 defendants have taken a number of surprising twists and turns nearly three months after the Capitol attack prosecution was abruptly upended.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2025
Hammond Police Department But prosecutor Taylor Anthony believed his prosecution would deliver justice to Selonia.
—Vladimir Duthiers, Paul Larosa, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2025
Eleven prosecutions, which are currently sealed, are ongoing as a result of the drug seizure, Bondi said.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prosecution
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Quora, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
President Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 defendants have taken a number of surprising twists and turns nearly three months after the Capitol attack prosecution was abruptly upended.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2025
Hammond Police Department But prosecutor Taylor Anthony believed his prosecution would deliver justice to Selonia.
—Vladimir Duthiers, Paul Larosa, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2025
Eleven prosecutions, which are currently sealed, are ongoing as a result of the drug seizure, Bondi said.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 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 19 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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