1 : the act or process of holding a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty [count] ▪ There has been an increase in prosecutions for gun-related crimes. [noncount] ▪ The defendant is awaiting prosecution. 2 the prosecution : the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is accused of a crime is guilty : the lawyer or lawyers who prosecute someone in a court case
▪ The prosecution called their first witness. ▪ The prosecution rests, Your Honor. ▪ The defense told the jury that the prosecution had not proved its case. — often used before another noun ▪ prosecution attorneys/lawyers — compare defense 3 [noncount] formal : the act of doing or continuing to do something — usually + of ▪ the prosecution of the war