Prosecute Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of PROSECUTE

1

law

:

to hold a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty

[no object]

• The store's owner agreed not to prosecute if the boy returned the stolen goods.

[+ object]

• Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

2

:

to work as a lawyer to try to prove a case against someone accused of a crime

[+ object]

• The case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney.

[no object]

• the prosecuting lawyer/counsel

3

[+ object]

formal

:

to continue to do (something)

:

to proceed with (something)

• She criticized the government for the way it has prosecuted the war.

— prosecutable

/ˌprɑːsəˈkjuːtəbəl/

adjective

• a prosecutable offense