prosecution
//ˌpɹɒs.ɪˈkjuː.ʃən//
Forms
- Plural
- prosecutions
Definitions
1.The act of prosecuting a scheme or endeavor.
- The prosecution of the war fell to Winston Churchill.
- Many apartheid perpetrators escaped prosecution for their persecution of black Africans and political dissidents.
2.The institution of legal proceedings (particularly criminal) against a person.
3.The prosecuting party.
4.In many countries, a legal body and institution, usually part of the state apparatus, empowered to perform prosecution. Prosecutor's Office. See Prosecutor.
- Backed by public outrage, the prosecution requested the death penalty to be imposed on the murderer.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3923
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
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.