Look-alike words

Persecute vs. Prosecute

Persecute means to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over and over, often because of who they are. Prosecute means to bring a legal case against someone in court. Prosecutors prosecute; bullies persecute.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
persecute	verb	to treat someone cruelly or unfairly again and again, often because of their beliefs, background or identity
prosecute	verb	to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law

Persecute

verb: to treat someone cruelly or unfairly again and again, often because of their beliefs, background or identity

The novel follows a family persecuted for speaking their own language.
Leo felt persecuted when his coach criticized only him at every practice.

Prosecute

verb: to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law

Shoplifters will be prosecuted, the sign by the door warned.
The city decided not to prosecute the teenagers for painting the wall.

How to remember the difference

Prosecute starts with pro-, like the legal pros who bring cases to court. Persecute starts with per-, like pursue: a persecutor keeps pursuing and harassing people.

Good to know

A prosecutor is the lawyer who brings the case for the government. Prosecute also has an older, formal sense: to carry a task through to the end, as in prosecute an investigation.

Spot the mistake

Trespassers will be ~~persecuted~~ prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Correct: Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. The district attorney decided to the company for dumping waste.

2. The class read a novel about a village that would anyone with new ideas.