Quick answer: Persecute means to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period of time, often because of their race, religion, or beliefs: Minorities were persecuted under the regime. Prosecute means to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law: He was prosecuted for fraud. Memory trick: proSECute has "SEC" like the legal SEC/security of a court case; perSECute is about ongoing, unfair suffering. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘persecute’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| persecute | verb | to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, often for their race, religion, or beliefs | Religious minorities were persecuted for centuries. |
| prosecute | verb | to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law; to conduct legal proceedings | The company was prosecuted for tax fraud. |
Using Persecute
Persecute describes ongoing cruel or unjust treatment of a person or group, typically motivated by prejudice related to race, religion, ethnicity, political belief, or identity. The persecution can involve harassment, discrimination, violence, or oppression, and it is usually sustained over time rather than a single event. The noun form is persecution, and someone who suffers it is a victim of persecution.
Religious minorities were persecuted throughout much of European history.
The journalist fled the country after being persecuted for her reporting.
Many refugees are fleeing persecution based on their political beliefs.
The activist felt he was being persecuted simply for speaking out.
Historically, certain ethnic groups have faced systematic persecution.
Common Collocations with Persecute
- religious persecution / political persecution
- fear of persecution (a key phrase in asylum and refugee law)
- persecuted minority
- persecution complex (an unfounded belief that one is being targeted)
Using Prosecute
Prosecute is a legal term meaning to formally accuse someone of a crime and pursue the case against them in court. The person or body that prosecutes is the prosecution or a prosecutor, and the person being prosecuted is the defendant. Prosecution is a formal, state-run legal process, distinct from any private disagreement or grievance.
He was prosecuted for fraud after the investigation concluded.
The state chose not to prosecute due to insufficient evidence.
The company faces criminal prosecution over the safety violations.
Prosecutors decided to prosecute the case as a felony.
Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Common Collocations with Prosecute
- to prosecute a case / prosecute a crime
- public prosecutor / Crown Prosecution Service
- decline to prosecute
- "trespassers will be prosecuted" (a common warning sign)
Persecute vs Prosecute in the Passive Voice
Both verbs appear very frequently in the passive voice, since the focus is usually on the person affected rather than the one carrying out the action, as outlined in this guide to English verb patterns. Compare: be persecuted for (unjust treatment) versus be prosecuted for (a formal criminal charge).
They were persecuted for their religious beliefs, not for any crime.
He was prosecuted for embezzlement and sentenced to two years.
Memory Trick
Think of proSECute as containing "SEC" — connect it to a legal case, like the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) prosecuting fraud, or simply remember that "pro-" often relates to formal, official processes (as in "process," "procedure"). PERsecute starts with "per-," which can remind you of "persistent" or "personal" suffering that continues over time. If a court, judge, or crime is involved, use prosecute; if unfair, cruel treatment of a person or group is involved, use persecute.
Common Mistakes
✗ He was persecuted for tax fraud and sent to trial.
✓ He was prosecuted for tax fraud and sent to trial.
✗ Minorities were prosecuted because of their ethnicity.
✓ Minorities were persecuted because of their ethnicity.
✗ The refugee applied for asylum, citing fear of prosecution.
✓ The refugee applied for asylum, citing fear of persecution.
✗ Trespassers will be persecuted.
✓ Trespassers will be prosecuted.
Quick Check: Persecute or Prosecute?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “He was ___ for fraud and sent to trial.”
2. “Minorities were ___ because of their religion.”
3. “Trespassers will be ___.” (warning sign)
4. Which word relates to a criminal court case?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between persecute and prosecute?
Persecute means to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, often because of their race, religion, or beliefs: "Minorities were persecuted under the regime." Prosecute means to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law: "He was prosecuted for fraud." Persecution is about ongoing mistreatment, while prosecution is a formal legal process carried out by the state.
Can someone be both persecuted and prosecuted?
Yes, in principle, though the two describe very different situations. Someone could be persecuted (unjustly mistreated) by a regime and separately prosecuted (legally charged) for an unrelated matter, or in unjust systems, a person might be prosecuted specifically as a form of persecution — for example, being charged with a fabricated crime because of their political beliefs. In fair legal systems, though, prosecution should never be used as a tool of persecution.
What is the noun form of each word?
The noun form of persecute is persecution: "The refugees fled religious persecution." The noun form of prosecute is prosecution: "The prosecution presented its case to the jury." A person who carries out a prosecution is called a prosecutor, while there is no equivalent formal title for someone who persecutes — they might simply be described as an oppressor or perpetrator.
Is "persecute" always about religion?
No, although religious persecution is one of the most common contexts. Persecution can be based on race, ethnicity, nationality, political opinion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or membership of a particular social group. In international law and asylum applications, "well-founded fear of persecution" is the key phrase used across all of these categories, not just religion.
What does "decline to prosecute" mean?
"Decline to prosecute" means that a prosecutor or prosecuting authority decides not to pursue criminal charges against someone, often due to insufficient evidence, public interest considerations, or procedural issues: "The district attorney declined to prosecute the case." This is a standard piece of legal terminology and always relates to prosecute, never persecute.
Who can prosecute someone?
In most legal systems, prosecution is carried out by the state through a public prosecutor or prosecuting authority — such as the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, or a district attorney's office in the United States — rather than by a private individual. This distinguishes criminal prosecution from private civil lawsuits, and it is why "prosecute" almost always appears in the context of criminal, not civil, law.
How do you pronounce persecute and prosecute?
Persecute is pronounced /ˈpɜː.sɪ.kjuːt/ (PER-si-kyoot), with stress on the first syllable. Prosecute is pronounced /ˈprɒs.ɪ.kjuːt/ (PROS-i-kyoot), also with stress on the first syllable. The words look and sound similar because both derive from the Latin verb "sequi," meaning "to follow," combined with different prefixes — "per-" (thoroughly) for persecute and "pro-" (forward, officially) for prosecute.
Is prosecute only used for criminal cases?
Overwhelmingly yes — "prosecute" is used almost exclusively for criminal proceedings brought by the state against a defendant. Civil disputes between private parties are typically described using words like "sue" or "file a lawsuit," not "prosecute." If you read about someone being "prosecuted," you can safely assume it involves a criminal charge, not a private legal dispute.
What is a "persecution complex"?
A persecution complex is a psychological term describing an unfounded, persistent belief that one is being unfairly targeted, mistreated, or victimised by others, even when there is little or no evidence for it. It is related to the verb persecute (to treat unjustly), not prosecute, since it concerns a perceived pattern of mistreatment rather than any legal process.
How can I remember which word to use?
Link "prosecute" to legal "process": both start with "pro-" and both involve formal, official procedures in a court. Link "persecute" to "personal" suffering: both start with "per-" and both involve individuals or groups enduring ongoing, unjust treatment. If courts, judges, or crimes are involved, choose prosecute; if unfair, cruel, or discriminatory treatment is involved, choose persecute.