# prosecution

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌpɹɒs.ɪˈkjuː.ʃən/ · frequency rank #6,505

## Definitions
1. The act of prosecuting a scheme or endeavor.
2. The institution of legal proceedings (particularly criminal) against a person.
3. The prosecuting party.
4. In many countries, a legal body and institution, usually part of the state apparatus, empowered to perform prosecution. Prosecutor's Office. See Prosecutor.

## Etymology
Equivalent to prosecute + -ion, from Middle French prosecution, from Late Latin prōsecutio, from Latin prōsequor (“follow, pursue”), from pro- (“onward”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare persecution, and see more at prosecute.

## Easily confused with
- **protection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prosecution-vs-protection)
- **prosecutor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prosecution-vs-prosecutor)
- **projection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/projection-vs-prosecution)
- **persecution** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/persecution-vs-prosecution)

## Common misspellings (17)
`porsecution`, `pprosecution`, `proescution`, `prosceution`, `proseccution`, `prosectuion`, `prosecuiton`, `prosecusion`, `prosecutino`, `prosecutionn`, `prosecutoin`, `prosecuttion`, `proseuction`, `prossecution`, `prrosecution`, `prsoecution`, `rposecution`

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