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vigilantism

British

/ ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænˌtɪzəm /

noun

the methods, conduct, attitudes, etc, associated with vigilantes, esp militancy, bigotry, or suspiciousness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

But I think that, in a world of vigilantism and stochastic terror, it is not just bad for speech qua speech, but for governance qua governance.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2025

She’s also taken her online sleuthing further, dipping into the realm of digital vigilantism.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2024

It has led to vigilantism during Valentine's Day and also counter protests such as the "Celebrating Love" event held by students at the engineering institute IIT-Madras in Chennai city to oppose moral policing.

From BBC • May 16, 2023

New York has become one of the nation’s safest large cities, but the emotional responses recalled the metropolis of decades ago, when residents felt besieged by crime and fatal vigilantism made national headlines.

From Seattle Times • May 4, 2023

Mr. Moskos said it’s too soon to talk about vigilantism as a full-blown national trend.

From Washington Times • Feb. 1, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023