prosecution
B2Formal, legal, official
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of holding a trial against someone in a court of law, accusing them of a crime; the party (the state or its representatives) that brings a criminal case against a defendant.
The continuation or carrying out of a plan, activity, or duty. The vigorous pursuit of an objective, often with a sense of determined effort.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to a legal action or the body conducting it. Its secondary meaning of 'carrying out' (e.g., 'the prosecution of the war') is formal and less frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core legal meaning. The UK system often refers to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In the US, federal cases are brought by the Department of Justice/US Attorney, and state cases by District/State's Attorneys.
Connotations
Both carry strong formal/legal connotations. The institutional name (e.g., CPS vs. DA's office) is the primary distinction.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in legal/formal news contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
prosecution of [person] for [crime]prosecution by [authority]prosecution for [offence]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The prosecution rests.”
- “A prosecution witness”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in 'prosecution for fraud/corruption' or discussing legal risks.
Academic
Common in law, criminology, and political science texts discussing legal systems and justice.
Everyday
Limited to news discussions of court cases. Not used casually.
Technical
Core term in legal practice and documentation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Crown Prosecution Service decided to prosecute the case.
- They were prosecuted for handling stolen goods.
American English
- The District Attorney's office will prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law.
- He was prosecuted for tax evasion.
adverb
British English
- The case was handled prosecutorialy by the CPS.
American English
- The DA acted prosecutorialy in seeking the maximum sentence.
adjective
British English
- The prosecution barrister presented the opening statement.
- The prosecution evidence was compelling.
American English
- The prosecution attorney called the first witness.
- The prosecution's case relied on forensic analysis.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police work with the prosecution.
- The prosecution showed the jury photos from the crime scene.
- He could face prosecution for his actions.
- The success of the prosecution's case hinged on the testimony of a single eyewitness.
- They brought a private prosecution against the company.
- The prosecution's meticulous presentation of digital evidence left little room for the defence to manoeuvre.
- Malicious prosecution is a tort that can be brought if a case was pursued without probable cause.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think PROSECUTE + ION. You need 'I ON' (I am focused on) the case to be a prosecutor.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS WAR (the prosecution mounts an attack/offensive; the defence holds the line).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'прокуратура' (which is 'prosecutor's office' - the institution). 'Prosecution' is the action/process ('уголовное преследование', 'судебное преследование') or the side in court ('обвинение').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'persecution' (unjust harassment) instead of 'prosecution' (legal action).
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'prosecute').
- Confusing 'prosecution' (the accusers) with 'defence' (the accused's team).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary role of the prosecution in a criminal trial?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In criminal law, typically yes—it's the state ('The Crown' in UK, 'The People' in US). However, 'private prosecutions' are possible in some jurisdictions, where an individual brings the case.
'Prosecution' is specifically for criminal cases (state vs. individual). 'Lawsuit' is a civil case (individual/entity vs. another individual/entity) about rights, damages, etc.
Yes, in very formal contexts it can mean 'the diligent carrying out of a task' (e.g., 'the prosecution of the war'), but this usage is rare and the legal meaning is dominant.
A lawyer called a prosecutor (e.g., Crown Prosecutor in UK, District/State's Attorney or Assistant US Attorney in US).
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C1 · 46 words · Legal language and regulatory frameworks.
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