noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌpɹɒs.ɪˈkjuː.ʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R AA2 S AH0 K Y UW1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of prosecuting a scheme or endeavor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The prosecution of the war fell to Winston Churchill.
Many apartheid perpetrators escaped prosecution for their persecution of black Africans and political dissidents.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The institution of legal proceedings (particularly criminal) against a person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The prosecuting party.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
In many countries, a legal body and institution, usually part of the state apparatus, empowered to perform prosecution. Prosecutor's Office. See Prosecutor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
Examples
Backed by public outrage, the prosecution requested the death penalty to be imposed on the murderer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the continuance of something begun with a view to its completion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pursuance
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: continuance, continuation
6
noun
Meaning 6
the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behavior
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: criminal prosecution
Antonyms: defense
Broader terms: legal action, action, action at law
Narrower terms: double jeopardy
7
noun
Meaning 7
the lawyers acting for the state to put the case against the defendant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
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.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مُقَاضَاة
(muqāḍāh)
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Arabic:
مُلَاحَقَة قَضَائِيَّة
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Catalan:
persecució
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Czech:
obžaloba
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Finnish:
syyte
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
French:
parquet
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
German:
Verfolgung
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
German:
Strafverfolgung f strafrechtliche Verfolgung
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Hindi:
अभियोजन
(abhiyojan)
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Italian:
prosecuzione
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Italian:
azione penale
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Japanese:
起訴
(kiso)
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Russian:
обвине́ние
(obvinénije)
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Spanish:
procesamiento
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Swedish:
åtal
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Ukrainian:
переслі́дування
(pereslíduvannja)
— the institution of legal proceedings against a person
Belarusian:
абвінава́чванне
(abvinaváčvannje)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Bulgarian:
прокуратура
(prokuratura)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Bulgarian:
обвинение
(obvinenie)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Czech:
žalobce
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
French:
vindicte
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
German:
verfolgende Behörde
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
German:
Strafverfolgungsbehörde
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Hindi:
वादी
(vādī)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Hindi:
अभियोगी
(abhiyogī)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Japanese:
検察
(kensatsu)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Polish:
prokuratura
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Polish:
strona oskarżająca
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Russian:
обвине́ние
(obvinénije)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Russian:
сторона́ обвине́ния
(storoná obvinénija)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Spanish:
acusación
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Spanish:
fiscalía
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Swedish:
åklagarsidan
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Tagalog:
prosekusyon
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
Ukrainian:
обвинува́чення
(obvynuváčennja)
— the prosecuting party of the institution of legal proceedings
