Look at the new district attorney vs Prosecutor

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Look at the new district attorney

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)

Prosecutor

FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
Most common: Prosecutor
 Look at the new district attorneyProsecutor
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈlʊk æt ðə njuː ˈdɪstrɪkt ɔːˈtɔːni//🇺🇸 //ˈlʊk æt ðə nu ˈdɪstrɪkt ɔˈtɔrni//🇬🇧 /["/ˈprɒsɪkjuːtə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːsɪkjuːtər/"]/
MeaningA lawyer representing the government in court cases.A lawyer who tries to prove someone is guilty of a crime in court.
ExampleLook at the new district attorney as they prepare for their first case.the **public/state prosecutor**
RegisterFormalFormal
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level-C1
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsdistrict attorney's office, new district attorney, district attorney in courtpublic, county, federal, charge somebody with something, indict somebody, allege something, public, county, federal, charge somebody with something, indict somebody, allege something
Antonyms-defendant, defense attorney
Common mistakesConfused with 'district attorney' and 'public defender'., Omitting 'the' before 'new district attorney'.Confused with 'defendant' (the person accused of a crime)., Used in non-legal contexts incorrectly., Assumed to be the same as a judge.
Usage notesUse in formal contexts when referring to legal professionals. Avoid casual settings.Used in legal contexts; appropriate in court settings or discussions about law. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.

See it in real clips

Look at the new district attorney

Frequently asked questions: Look at the new district attorney vs Prosecutor

What's the difference between Look at the new district attorney and Prosecutor?

Look at the new district attorney: A lawyer representing the government in court cases. Prosecutor: A lawyer who tries to prove someone is guilty of a crime in court.

Which is more common: Look at the new district attorney and Prosecutor?

Prosecutor is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Look at the new district attorney: Look at the new district attorney as they prepare for their first case. Prosecutor: the **public/state prosecutor**

Can I use Look at the new district attorney and Prosecutor interchangeably?

Not always. Look at the new district attorney and Prosecutor are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons