What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
plaintiff
Example
The plaintiff accused the defendant of breach of contract. [plaintiff: noun]
Example
She is the plaintiff in a lawsuit against her former employer. [plaintiff: noun]
prosecutor
Example
The prosecutor argued that the defendant was guilty of murder. [prosecutor: noun]
Example
The prosecutor presented evidence to support the charges against the defendant. [prosecutor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prosecutor is more commonly used than plaintiff in legal contexts, as it is specific to criminal cases. Plaintiff is used in both civil and criminal cases, but is less common overall.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between plaintiff and prosecutor?
Both plaintiff and prosecutor are formal terms used in legal contexts, and are not typically used in everyday language.
