noun
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the fact, quality, or condition of being vigilant
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the abnormal state or condition of being unable to sleep
Usage
What does vigilance mean? Vigilance is the state of being watchful or alert for danger or some other kind of trouble. Vigilance is the noun form of the adjective vigilant, meaning watchful or alert. Vigilance is often used when talking about keeping something out or in—whether that means keeping mistakes out of your work, robbers out of your home, or the dog inside the house. In a medical context, vigilance is sometimes used as a synonym for insomnia—the state of being unable to sleep. Example: We must be vigilant if we want to protect our home from invaders.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vigilance
First recorded in 1560–70; alteration ( -ance for -ancy) of obsolete vigilancy, from Latin vigilantia; see vigilant, -ancy
Explanation
Vigilance is devoted attentiveness or watchfulness. Security guards and test proctors alike need to practice vigilance. Vigilance comes from the Latin word for "wakefulness," vigilantia, and in a medical setting vigilance is still sometimes used to mean "insomnia." A prison guard might be required to maintain vigilance the whole time she's working, always being alert and watchful.
Vocabulary lists containing vigilance
"Harrison Bergeron"
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A Long Way Gone
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Fences
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Israel has been a high-risk destination since a spate of hijackings and attacks in the 1970s, which has led to heightened vigilance, something an airport as big and high-profile as Dubai is well used to.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Caffeinated coffee, meanwhile, was associated with reduced feelings of anxiety as well as improved vigilance and attention.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
Everyone resumes their business, carrying with them the lesson of never sacrificing their spirit even while living in a state of constant vigilance.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
When users click external URLs to apply for jobs, the website urges vigilance through a pop-up notification.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
All that evening we continued our vigilance on the couch in front of the television.
From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
