# prosecute

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/ · frequency rank #14,194

## Definitions
1. To start criminal proceedings against.
2. To charge, try.
3. To seek to obtain by legal process.
4. To pursue something to the end.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin prōsecūtus, perfect participle of prōsequor. Doublet of pursue, from Old French. Compare also persecute.

## Easily confused with
- **prosecutor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prosecute-vs-prosecutor)
- **persecute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/persecute-vs-prosecute)

## Common misspellings (13)
`porsecute`, `pprosecute`, `proescute`, `prosceute`, `proseccute`, `prosectue`, `prosecuet`, `prosecutte`, `proseucte`, `prossecute`, `prrosecute`, `prsoecute`, `rposecute`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prosecute