director of public prosecutions: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Official, Legal
Quick answer
What does “director of public prosecutions” mean?
The title of the head of the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, the principal public prosecutor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of the head of the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, the principal public prosecutor.
A senior, independent legal officer responsible for leading a national or regional public prosecution service, overseeing decisions to prosecute serious crimes and representing the public interest in criminal justice. The term can be used generically for similar offices in other common law jurisdictions (e.g., Australia).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This is a specifically British (and Commonwealth) legal title. The closest equivalent in the US federal system is the 'United States Attorney General', but the functions are more directly paralleled by state-level 'District Attorneys' or 'State's Attorneys', who are typically elected, not appointed.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes a high-ranking, appointed, non-political (in principle) legal professional. In the US, equivalent roles often carry strong connotations of electoral politics.
Frequency
High frequency in UK legal and news media. Very low frequency in US English, except in comparative legal discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “director of public prosecutions” in a Sentence
[The] Director of Public Prosecutions + [verb: decided/announced/confirmed] + [that-clause][Subject] + [verb: consulted/referred to] + the Director of Public Prosecutions + [prep: on/about] + [matter]The + [adj] + decision + [prep: by/of] + the Director of Public ProsecutionsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “director of public prosecutions” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The case was serious enough to be director of public prosecutioned. (Informal/Non-standard)
American English
- The case was referred for federal prosecution. (No direct equivalent verb)
adverb
British English
- The decision was made directorshiply. (Non-standard/Imaginary)
American English
- The case was prosecuted federally.
adjective
British English
- The Director of Public Prosecutions office issued new guidelines.
- A DPP-led review was launched.
American English
- The district attorney's office handled the case.
- A state's attorney investigation concluded.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cases of serious corporate fraud or regulatory breaches.
Academic
Common in legal, criminology, and political science texts discussing comparative criminal justice systems.
Everyday
Used in news reports about high-profile crimes, scandals, or controversial decisions not to prosecute.
Technical
Core term in UK legal practice, criminal procedure, and constitutional law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “director of public prosecutions”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “director of public prosecutions”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “director of public prosecutions”
- Using 'the' incorrectly: 'He is Director of Public Prosecutions' (correct for title) vs. 'He is the director of public prosecutions' (generic).
- Confusing with 'Attorney General' (a separate, more political role).
- Using plural 'Directors' for a single office.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In England and Wales, the Attorney General is a political minister and the government's chief legal advisor. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which conducts criminal prosecutions. The Attorney General oversees the DPP but does not control individual prosecutorial decisions.
No. The DPP is a prosecutorial and administrative role. Arrests are carried out by the police. The DPP's office reviews evidence gathered by the police and decides if a prosecution should proceed.
No. The DPP is a civil servant appointed by the Attorney General, based on professional legal merit, not by public election.
DPP is the standard acronym for 'Director of Public Prosecutions'. It is widely used in legal writing and journalism.
The title of the head of the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, the principal public prosecutor.
Director of public prosecutions is usually formal, official, legal in register.
Director of public prosecutions: in British English it is pronounced /daɪˌrɛk.tər əv ˌpʌb.lɪk ˈprɒs.ɪ.kjuː.ʃənz/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˌrek.tɚ əv ˌpʌb.lɪk ˌprɑː.səˈkjuː.ʃənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The buck stops with the DPP (adapted idiom)”
- “To have the DPP on your back (colloquial, implies serious investigation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a film DIRECTOR, but instead of movies, they direct PUBLIC prosecutions in court.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A THEATRE (The DPP is the lead director), THE STATE IS A PERSON (The DPP is the state's legal voice).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the 'Director of Public Prosecutions' a major legal office?