Word
prosecution
Phoneticspros·e·cu·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌpɹɑsəkˈjuʃən/
UK/pɹˌɒsɪkjˈuːʃən/
Definitions
01legal proceedings
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the process of officially accusing someone of a crime and testing the evidence in a court of law.
n. the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a person in a criminal court.
日本語:起訴※
“The evidence was so weak that the prosecution was dropped before it reached court.”
“The director of public prosecutions decided that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a formal prosecution for fraud.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'bring', 'initiate', or 'face'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the legal team
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the lawyers who try to prove that a person is guilty of a crime.
n. the party or legal team conducting the case against a defendant in a criminal court.
日本語:検察※
“The prosecution called three witnesses to testify about what they saw that night.”
“The prosecution rested its case after presenting a series of forensic reports that linked the suspect to the crime scene.”
Usage
Usually takes a singular verb, though it refers to a team of people.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03carrying out a task
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Formal · Academic
n. the act of continuing with a plan or a piece of work until it is finished.
n. the act of carrying out or continuing a task, scheme, or endeavor to its completion.
“He was very determined in the prosecution of his professional goals.”
“The general was praised for his vigorous prosecution of the war, despite the mounting political pressure at home.”
Usage
Typically followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prosecution” in context.
Verb
01. bring a prosecution against the defendant
“The Crown decided to bring a prosecution against the defendant after new forensic evidence emerged.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. escape prosecution
“Several key witnesses refused to testify, allowing the suspects to escape prosecution for their crimes.”
verb + noun
03. face prosecution
“The company could face prosecution if they are found to have violated environmental safety regulations.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. criminal prosecution
“He was granted immunity from criminal prosecution in exchange for his cooperation with the authorities.”
adj + noun
05. malicious prosecution
“The businessman sued the city for malicious prosecution after the case against him was dismissed for lack of evidence.”
adj + noun
06. successful prosecution
“The diligent work of the investigators led to the successful prosecution of the drug cartel leaders.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. burden of prosecution
“The legal team argued that the heavy burden of prosecution was not met due to inconsistent testimonies.”
noun + of + noun
08. prosecution witness
“The prosecution witness provided a detailed account of the events that took place on the night of the robbery.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. liable to prosecution
“Anyone found trespassing on this private property will be liable to prosecution.”
adj + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Activists say some have been threatened with prosecution or beaten until they agreed to sign.” “Figures show 79 per cent of fines were paid on time, with the remainder referred for prosecution in the District Court.” “New York’s double jeopardy law could possibly prohibit his state-level prosecution.” “He says customs officials have carried out seizures of protected wildlife and supported prosecutions linked to illegal trafficking.” Etymology
Equivalent to prosecute + -ion, from Middle French prosecution, from Late Latin prōsecutio, from Latin prōsequor (“follow, pursue”), from pro- (“onward”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare persecution, and see more at prosecute.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
The word in film
Witness for the Prosecution · 1957 · Crime
- Directed by:
- Billy Wilder
- Starring:
- Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power
Billy Wilder directs this courtroom mystery adapted from Agatha Christie's story about an ailing barrister defending a charming man accused of murdering an elderly widow. The title names the legal party conducting the criminal case, whose surprising star witness upends the entire trial.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prosecution
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0