Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to follow to the end” or “to engage in.” If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted ...

Does prosecuted mean convicted?

prosecute verb (LEGAL)

to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a law court, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime: Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

What does it mean to prosecute a law?

In criminal law, prosecute means to initiate criminal proceedings against a person. Such actions are initiated by the prosecuting attorney, for example, a local District Attorney, state Attorney General, or federal United States Attorney.