vindication
Americannoun
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the act of vindicating.
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the state of being vindicated.
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defense; excuse; justification.
Poverty was a vindication for his thievery.
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something that vindicates.
Subsequent events were her vindication.
noun
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the act of vindicating or the condition of being vindicated
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a means of exoneration from an accusation
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a fact, evidence, circumstance, etc, that serves to vindicate a theory or claim
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vindication
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin vindicātiōn-, stem of vindicātiō “defense, punishment, vengeance”; equivalent to vindicate + -ion
Explanation
Vindication is a sweet thing — when you get vindication, you've been proven right or justified in doing something. Everyone accused of a crime craves vindication. Vindication is good, but it can only come after something bad, like being accused of something you didn't do. If a teacher thought you cheated, but then announced to the whole class that you didn't, you're getting vindication. An accused criminal who is exonerated — cleared of the crime — gets vindication. If you believe something crazy — like that your underdog sports team could win a championship — and it comes true, that's a vindication of your beliefs.
Vocabulary lists containing vindication
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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The Kite Runner
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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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.
Even if he fails in court, Cohen’s turnabout has muddied the case in the court of public opinion, letting Trump claim vindication.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
During his court case, prosecutors argued that McBride's actions had been motivated by "personal vindication", and that the way he gathered, stored and then leaked the documents endangered Australia's national security and foreign policy.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
That thing you insisted would be a great success not only has caused great harm, it’s been an indictment of your own judgment and a vindication of everyone who told you not to do it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
But Huerta hailed the move for a dismissal as vindication he did nothing wrong.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Not for the power or for vindication, but because we, with the given circumstance of our origin, could only thus find transcendence?
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
