vigilante

[ vij-uh-lan-tee ]

noun

1. a member of a vigilance committee.
2. any person who takes the law into their own hands, such as by avenging a crime.

adjective

1. done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures:

   vigilante justice.

vigilante

/ ˌvɪdʒɪˈlæntɪ /

noun

1. one of an organized group of citizens who take upon themselves the protection of their district, properties, etc
2. Also calledvigilance man a member of a vigilance committee

Other Words From

• vigi·lante·ism vig·i·lan·tism [vij-, uh, -, lan, -tiz-, uh, m, vij, -, uh, -l, uh, n-tiz-, uh, m], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilante¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; from Spanish: literally, “vigilant”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilante¹

C19: from Spanish, from Latin vigilāre to keep watch

Example Sentences

After El Paso I began investigating how a border crisis, rising temperatures, disasters and the swirling political reactions to them were affecting the agendas and vigilante campaigns of the far right.

From Salon

On the surface, nothing could seem less connected to Trump’s recent reelection than a TV series featuring a brilliant scientist who looks a bit like an upright walking cat, a blue-haired vigilante, a drug-dealing talking rodent and a seemingly all-powerful technology called Hextech.

From Salon

A scary situation unfolded early Halloween morning when an AR-15-wielding vigilante mistakenly fired at San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies while trying to pursue a group of suspected burglars, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

After Bradley Bozeman became the football field’s version of Batman — dispensing vigilante justice by pinning Saints defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd to the turf after a dangerous takedown of quarterback Justin Herbert — the Chargers center’s wife, Nikki Bozeman, drove home from SoFi Stadium on Sunday night hoping the reaction would simply stay in the family’s favor.

From Los Angeles Times

After the Chargers used Bozeman’s viral moment of vigilante justice to share information about the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation on social media, more than 150 fans donated to the charity’s efforts to address food insecurity and combat bullying.

From Los Angeles Times