ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prosecutors

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɹɑsɪkˌjutɝz// UK //pɹˈɒsɪkjˌuːtəz// pros·e·cu·tors

n. lawyers whose job is to prove in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime. They represent the government or the public, not the person being accused.

n. legal officials who initiate and conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or government. Plural form of the agent noun; refers to the side of a legal case that carries the burden of proof.


SIMPLE

The prosecutors presented new evidence to the jury today.

CONTEXTUAL

Federal prosecutors spent months building a case against the company for tax evasion before filing formal charges.

COMPLEX

While defense attorneys focus on protecting the rights of the accused, prosecutors are tasked with representing the interests of the state and ensuring that justice is served according to the law.

Synonyms
Usage

Often used in the plural to refer to the legal team or the office representing the state.

Pitfall

The prosecutors defended the criminal.The prosecutors charged the criminal.Learners sometimes confuse prosecutors with defense lawyers; prosecutors work against the accused to prove guilt.

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