prosecution

[ pros-i-kyoo-shuhn ]
See synonyms for prosecution on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Law.

    • the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person.

    • the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on.

  2. the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.

Origin of prosecution

1
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin prōsecūtiōn-, stem of prōsecūtiō “follow-up”; equivalent to prosecute + -ion

Other words from prosecution

  • non·pros·e·cu·tion, noun

Words Nearby prosecution

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use prosecution in a sentence

  • The prosecution hoped to show that this chain was the one which I had said had been stolen.

    My Memoirs | Marguerite Steinheil
  • And now the Graft prosecution was to learn by public vote how many of the people stood behind it.

    Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman
  • Enemies of prosecution, backed by an enormous fund, were setting innumerable obstacles in their way.

    Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman
  • Most of the San Francisco papers heaped abuse upon the prosecution, its attorneys and its judges.

    Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman
  • But before a jury was empanelled the November ballot gave the prosecution its "coup de grace."

    Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman

British Dictionary definitions for prosecution

prosecution

/ (ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən) /


noun
  1. the act of prosecuting or the state of being prosecuted

    • the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a person

    • the proceedings brought in the name of the Crown to put an accused on trial

  1. the lawyers acting for the Crown to put the case against a person: Compare defence (def. 6)

  2. the following up or carrying on of something begun, esp with a view to its accomplishment or completion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012