# prosecutor

/ˈpɹɑsɪkˌjutɝ/ (US) · /pɹˈɒsɪkjˌuːtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prosecutor
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. government lawyer

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a lawyer who represents the government in a court of law to prove someone committed a crime.

For teachers: a legal official who conducts criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or the public interest.

- The prosecutor presented new evidence to the jury during the trial.
- The lead prosecutor argued that the defendant's financial records provided a clear motive for the alleged embezzlement.

Usage: The noun is countable and often used with the definite article when referring to the lead official in a specific case.

### 2. person starting a case

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the person or group that starts a legal case against someone else.

For teachers: the party who institutes a criminal or civil proceeding; may refer to a private complainant in certain legal systems.

- In some legal systems, a private citizen can act as a prosecutor.
- The court must determine if the private prosecutor has sufficient standing to bring these charges forward without state support.

Usage: In modern common law, this more general sense is often replaced by 'complainant' or 'plaintiff' in civil contexts.

## Examples

- The prosecutor presented new evidence to the jury.
- After reviewing the police report, the prosecutor decided there was enough evidence to charge the suspect with theft.
- The lead prosecutor argued that the defendant's actions were premeditated, citing a series of encrypted messages sent just hours before the incident occurred.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.