If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.

PERSECUTED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of persecute 2. to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long…. Learn more.

1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs. 2. To annoy persistently; bother: persecuted the babysitter with foolish …

Definition of persecute verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. persecute somebody (for something) to treat somebody in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, …

They were persecuted for their beliefs. He complained about being persecuted [= harassed] by the media. They were victims of religious persecution. He was forced to flee the country to …

PERSECUTED definition: persistently harassed or oppressed, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. See examples of …

If someone is persecuted, they are treated cruelly and unfairly, often because of their race or beliefs.

To persecute is to make someone suffer or to keep them in bad circumstances. In some parts of the world governments or military groups persecute, or punish, people for religious beliefs, …

Factsheet What does the word persecuted mean? There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word persecuted. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

PERSECUTE meaning: 1. to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion…. Learn more.