Prosecutor
ˈprɒsɪkjuːtər
Definitions
A lawyer who officially charges someone with a crime in a court of law.
ˈprɒsɪkjuːtər
A legal professional who conducts criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or the people.
The prosecutor presented a compelling case against the defendant.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who works for the government and tries to prove in court that someone broke the law. They gather evidence and present it to a judge and jury to show the person is guilty, like a detective.
👶 For kids: A person who works for the police and tries to prove that someone did something bad, like stealing or hurting someone.
More Examples
The prosecutor called several witnesses to testify.
The prosecutor's closing arguments summarized the evidence presented throughout the trial.
How It's Used
"Prosecutors are responsible for presenting evidence in court to prove the guilt of the accused."
"The prosecutor argued for a harsh sentence given the severity of the crime."
From Latin *prosecutus*, past participle of *prosequi* 'to pursue'.
Historically, the term evolved from roles responsible for 'pursuing' or 'following up' on legal matters.
Memory tip
Think of a person whose job is to pursue legal charges against someone.