1. (law) the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behaviour
   "The district attorney's office initiated criminal prosecution against the suspected drug dealer";
   - criminal prosecution
    
2. The lawyers acting for the state to put the case against the defendant
   "The prosecution presented compelling evidence of the defendant's guilt"
    
3. The continuance of something begun with a view to its completion
   "The prosecution of the war effort required significant resources";
   - pursuance

Derived forms: prosecutions

Type of: accumulation, action, action at law, aggregation, assemblage, collection, continuance, continuation, legal action

Antonym: defence [Brit, Cdn]

Part of: trial

Encyclopedia: Prosecution