prosecute
PRO-sihk-yoot
Prosecute (verb) means to formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court. Example: “The company was prosecuted for violating safety regulations.”
verb
1
To formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court.
"The company was prosecuted for violating safety regulations."
"He was prosecuted for tax fraud after a lengthy investigation."
2
(formal) To carry a task or plan through to its conclusion.
"The army prosecuted the campaign with great determination."
How to use prosecute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bring someone to trial for a crime, or (less commonly) to carry something through to completion.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "persecute," which means to mistreat or harass someone unfairly — very different meaning despite the similar spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prosecute a case
fully prosecute
prosecuted for
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like prosecute.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- prosecutes
- Past tense
- prosecuted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company was _____ for violating safety regulations.
Etymology
From Latin prosecutus, the past participle of prosequor ("to follow, pursue"). A doublet of "pursue."
Related words
Rhymes for prosecute
See all rhymes for prosecute →Frequently asked questions
What does “prosecute” mean?
The word “prosecute” means to formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court. In plain terms, to bring someone to trial for a crime, or (less commonly) to carry something through to completion.
How do you pronounce “prosecute”?
“Prosecute” is pronounced PRO-sihk-yoot (/ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “prosecute” in a sentence?
Here is “prosecute” used in a sentence: “The company was prosecuted for violating safety regulations.”
What part of speech is “prosecute”?
“Prosecute” is a verb.
Where does the word “prosecute” come from?
The word “prosecute” comes from Latin. From Latin prosecutus, the past participle of prosequor ("to follow, pursue"). A doublet of "pursue.".
Is “prosecute” a common word?
“Prosecute” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “prosecute” have?
“Prosecute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court.
What is the difference between "prosecute" and "persecute"?
"Prosecute" means to formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court, a term rooted in law. "Persecute" means to subject someone to hostile or unfair treatment, often because of their beliefs or identity, and has no legal connotation.
Who has the authority to prosecute someone in a criminal case?
A prosecutor, typically a government or state attorney, brings and pursues criminal charges against a defendant in court. This is distinct from a private individual bringing a civil lawsuit.
What does it mean to "prosecute" a plan or task, as opposed to prosecuting a crime?
In a more formal, less common sense, "prosecute" can mean to carry a task or plan through to its conclusion, without any legal meaning. For example, "to prosecute a war" means to conduct or pursue it to its end.
