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Glite Dictionary
prosecuting officer

prosecuting officer

6.0
A government lawyer who tries to prove someone committed a crime in court
  • noun
  • /ˈprɒsɪkjuːtɪŋ ˈɔːfɪsər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fiscal
  • During the trial, the prosecuting officer argued that justice must be served for the crime committed.

Examples

  • The prosecuting officer presented compelling evidence that led to the defendant's conviction.

  • Prosecuting officer is here to take you to Albany... where you'll be tried for murder.

    The Light Between Oceans (2016)

  • As defending officer, lt. Orde as prosecuting officer, major Fincham presiding.

    Von Ryan's Express (1965)

  • The judge appointed a prosecuting officer to oversee the case against the alleged fraudster.

Synonyms

prosecutor
vsprosecuting officer
789 4.6

A lawyer who represents the government and brings charges against someone accused of a crime

is the same government representative but expressed in the key wording
prosecution
vsprosecuting officer
  • Specialized
169 5.7

An act in which the state brings a criminal charge against someone in court

is the person who carries out those legal proceedings for authorities
state's attorney
vsprosecuting officer
  • Formal
28 6.8

A government lawyer who brings criminal charges for the state

is the general government role that applies beyond one country
prosecuting attorney
vsprosecuting officer
  • Specialized
10 5.9

A government lawyer who tries to prove someone committed a crime in court

is the broader government role rather than a specific job title
public prosecutor
vsprosecuting officer
  • UK
2 4.1

A government official who brings criminal charges in court for the state

is the government person who conducts those cases for public authorities
ad prosequendum
vsprosecuting officer
  • Formal
9.9

A person a court chooses to sue for someone who cannot act for themselves

is the standing government official who handles such criminal cases directly

Surface Forms

prosecuting officer singular
prosecuting officers plural

Morphology

prosecute + officer

The phrase literally denotes an officer who prosecutes cases, so its meaning is directly compositional from 'prosecute' (to pursue a legal case) + 'officer' (an appointed official). This agent+role construction is a standard, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Prosecuting officer comes from the image of a public officer who is prosecuting someone in court, literally taking the case to 'prove guilt' for the 'public'. So, it means 'a government official who brings criminal cases on behalf of the community'.