special prosecutor

noun

A lawyer assigned to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, a case for which there is a conflict of interest for the normal prosecuting authority.

Similar
independent counselspecial counsel
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Meanings

nounspecial prosecutor (plural special prosecutors)

plural special prosecutors

  1. USgovernmentA lawyer assigned to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, a case for which there is a conflict of interest for the normal prosecuting authority.

    Under the Ford plan, the president—not the courts—would appoint the special prosecutor.

    1999, Bob Woodward, Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate

    Synonyms: independent counsel, special counsel

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA lawyer assigned to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, a case for which there is a conflict of interest for the normal prosecuting authority.

Similar
independent counselspecial counsel
Cite this entry
APA

special prosecutor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20prosecutor

MLA

“special prosecutor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20prosecutor. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “special prosecutor,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20prosecutor.

Source: special prosecutor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.