prosecutepros·e·cute /ˈprɒsɪkjuːtˈprɑː-/ verb [intransitiveI, transitiveT]LAW1if the state authorities prosecute someone, they officially say that person must be judged by a court of law for a particular crimeShoplifters (=people who steal things from shops) will be prosecuted.
prosecute somebody for somethingJohnson is being prosecuted for an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act.
2if a lawyer prosecutes a case, he or she tries to prove that the person charged with a crime is guiltyThe attorney prosecuting the case refused to comment on the trial.
→ compare defend