vindication

[vin-di-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of vindicating.

2. the state of being vindicated.

3. defense; excuse; justification.

   Poverty was a vindication for his thievery.

4. something that vindicates.

   Subsequent events were her vindication.

vindication

/ ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of vindicating or the condition of being vindicated

2. a means of exoneration from an accusation

3. a fact, evidence, circumstance, etc, that serves to vindicate a theory or claim

Other Word Forms

• nonvindication noun
• revindication noun
• self-vindication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vindication¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin vindicātiōn-, stem of vindicātiō “defense, punishment, vengeance”; equivalent to vindicate + -ion

Example Sentences

The chancellor will see this as vindication for a tough stance on her "non-negotiable" rules, and will use these figures to demand discipline over tricky Budget decisions from her backbenches.

Read more on BBC

And he had, though it wasn’t for fun but vindication: to prove to the world that the investment-grade bonds he had bet against were indeed entirely without value.

Read more on Literature

At the time of that June ruling, Lively’s attorneys called the decision “a total victory and a complete vindication.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After Baldoni's case was dismissed in June, the actress's lawyers called it "a total victory and a complete vindication".

Read more on BBC

Bringing Jemimah back into the XI - a move widely criticised at the time - was vindication enough.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• exoneration 
• proof 
• revenge