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 the lawyers acting for the Crown to put the case against a person
Comparedefence 6 the following up or carrying on of something begun, esp with a view to its accomplishment or completion
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pros•e•cu•tion /ˌprɑsɪˈkyuʃən/USA pronunciation
n. the party conducting legal proceedings against a person:[uncountable* usually: the + ~]The prosecution contends that the defendant is guilty.
the act of following up or carrying forward some action to its completion:[uncountable]the prosecution of a war.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of beginning or conducting legal proceedings against a person: [uncountable]The store will seek prosecution of any shoplifter.[countable]prosecutions for wrongdoing.
pros•e•cu•tion
(pros′i kyo̅o̅′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- 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.
- the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.
- Late Latin prōsecūtiōn- (stem of prōsecūtiō) a following up. See prosecute, -ion
- 1555–65
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'liable to prosecution' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):