prosecution

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behavior
  2. noun the lawyers acting for the state to put the case against the defendant
  3. noun the continuance of something begun with a view to its completion

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

criminal prosecution

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