Prosecution
ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsThe institution or the process of being tried in a court of law.
ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən
The act of conducting legal proceedings against someone in a criminal court.
The prosecution argued that the evidence was overwhelming.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone breaking the rules and getting taken to court. The 'prosecution' is the team trying to prove they did something wrong, like the good guys in a superhero movie trying to catch the bad guy.
👶 For kids: When the police try to prove someone broke the law in court, that's called a prosecution.
More Examples
The defendant faced a tough prosecution due to the severity of the charges.
The prosecution team worked tirelessly to build their case.
How It's Used
"The prosecution presented evidence to prove the defendant's guilt."
"The prosecution rested its case after calling several witnesses."
The group of people (usually lawyers) who take legal action against someone.
ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən
The lawyers who work to put people on trial for breaking the law.
The prosecution presented a strong argument, showing that the suspect was involved in the case.
💡 Simply: In court, there are two teams: the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution is like the team of detectives and lawyers trying to prove someone is guilty of a crime.
👶 For kids: The people who work to prove that someone did something wrong, like a crime, are called the prosecution.
More Examples
The prosecution called several witnesses to support its case.
The prosecution team focused on presenting a clear timeline of events.
How It's Used
"The prosecution rested its case after calling several witnesses."
"The prosecution of corruption cases is a key government priority."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
persecution complex
A state of mind where someone believes they are being unfairly treated or harassed.
"He often acted as if he had a persecution complex, even when things were going well."
From Late Middle English prosecucioun, from Old French prosecucion, from Medieval Latin prosecutio, from the past participle stem of Latin prōsequor ('I pursue, follow up').
The word 'prosecution' has been used in legal contexts since the 14th century, referring to the act of pursuing a legal claim or the legal process itself.
Memory tip
Think of a prosecutor relentlessly pursuing justice in court.
Word Origin
"to pursue, follow up (prōsequor)"