/ ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃn; NAmE ˌprɑːs-/ noun
1.
[ U , C ] the process of trying to prove in court that sb is guilty of a crime (= of prosecuting them) ; the process of being officially charged with a crime in court :
Prosecution for a first minor offence rarely leads to imprisonment.
He threatened to bring a private prosecution against the doctor.
2.
the prosecution [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] a person or an organization that prosecutes sb in court, together with the lawyers, etc. :
He was a witness for the prosecution .
The prosecution has / have failed to prove its / their case.
defence and prosecution
a prosecution lawyer
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) the act of making sth happen or continue
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in sense 3): from Old French , or from late Latin prosecutio(n-) , from prosequi pursue, accompany, from pro- onward + sequi follow.