A plaintiff is the person who brings a civil lawsuit against someone else, over a private dispute such as a broken contract. A prosecutor is a lawyer who brings criminal charges, acting on behalf of the state rather than for themselves. In a breach of contract case the plaintiff sues; in a criminal case the prosecutor argues the evidence proves intent.
The core difference
A plaintiff sues in a civil case on their own behalf; a prosecutor brings criminal charges on behalf of the state.
- plaintiff — the person who brings a case against someone else in a civil lawsuit: The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
- prosecutor — a lawyer who represents the state in bringing criminal charges: The prosecutor argued that the evidence proved intent.
How to tell them apart
The clearest way to separate them is who they represent. A plaintiff is a private individual or organisation pursuing their own civil claim, such as a breach of contract. A prosecutor is always a lawyer acting for the state, bringing criminal charges rather than a personal dispute.
Plaintiff shares its root with plaintive, both coming from an old word meaning complaining, which fits a plaintiff's role in bringing a complaint to court. Prosecutor comes from a Latin root meaning to pursue, matching the act of pursuing criminal charges.
