两者在英美法中均属侵权范畴行为。其中，abuse of process 为“滥用诉讼程序”，仅指所提起的民事或刑事诉讼程序与旨在提起的诉讼目的有差异，情节轻微，无明显恶意[1]。而malicious prosecution 则为 “恶意诉讼”，其性质严重，带有明显无任何理由而提起刑事或民事指控之恶意[2]，恶意诉讼也称为malicious use of process,等同 malicious abuse of process。

[1]“the tort of brining and following through with a civil or criminal action for a purpose known to be different from the purpose for which the action was designed. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law，at p. 5，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

[2]“The tort of initiating or continuing a criminal prosecution or civil case without probable cause and for an improper purpose.”Cf. James E. Clapp，Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law，at p. 279, Random House (2000).