1the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge:the organizers are facing prosecution for noise nuisance [count noun]:they lacked the funds to embark on private prosecutions
(the prosecution) [treated as singular or plural] the party instituting or conducting legal proceedings against someone in a lawsuit:the main witness for the prosecution
2the continuation of a course of action with a view to its completion:the BBC’s prosecution of its commercial ends
Origin:
mid 16th century(in sense 2): from Old French, or from late Latin prosecutio(n-), from prosequi 'pursue, accompany' (see prosecute)
prosecution in other Oxford dictionaries
Definition of prosecution in the US English dictionary
