What does prosecuted mean?
Prosecuted is the past tense and past participle of prosecute, a formal verb meaning to bring criminal charges against someone and seek a legal conviction. It is commonly used in news and legal contexts, as in “the defendant was prosecuted for fraud” or “the company was prosecuted for pollution.” The word can also mean to pursue an investigation or objective with persistent effort, although this sense is less frequent and more figurative. Prosecution is the legal process, while a prosecutor is the official who brings the case. In ordinary use, the word suggests official accusation and a serious attempt to establish responsibility under criminal law. It should not be confused with persecute, which refers to repeated, unjust treatment rather than formal legal charges.
To bring formal criminal charges against a person or organization and conduct the case in court.
"The authorities prosecuted the former official for accepting bribes."
This is the dominant modern legal sense. It normally takes a person, group, or organization as its object.
To pursue an investigation, case, or objective with determined effort.
"The committee prosecuted its inquiry into the alleged misconduct."
This sense is formal and less common than the legal sense.
To be prosecuted is to face the full force of the legal process: the word turns accusation into an official criminal proceeding.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prosecuted come from?
The word comes from Latin prosecutare, a Medieval Latin form meaning to pursue, continue, or carry forward, ultimately related to prosequi, “to follow onward.” In English, it developed a legal meaning through prosecutio and later acquired the sense of bringing a criminal case against someone. Related forms include prosecution, prosecutor, and prosecutorial, all of which preserve the idea of pursuing a case or legal proceeding.
Related word forms
How prosecuted is actually used
In its legal sense, prosecute is normally used with a person, group, or organization as the object: authorities prosecute suspects. In its less common sense of pursuing an investigation or objective, it is formal and may sound somewhat literary.
Easily confused with prosecuted
Prosecute means to bring formal criminal charges against someone, whereas persecute means to subject someone to repeated, unjust treatment.