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
- hypervigilance noun
- nonvigilance noun
- previgilance noun
- supervigilance noun
Etymology
Origin of vigilance
First recorded in 1560–70; alteration ( -ance for -ancy ) of obsolete vigilancy, from Latin vigilantia; vigilant, -ancy
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.
One of the most overlooked costs of long-term care is indirect: You’re more vulnerable to scams when health setbacks reduce your vigilance.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
Signal has stressed while they have protections in place, "user vigilance" is the best way to combat phishing attempts.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
“For now, the economy still looks to be ‘in a good place’, albeit one that the European Central Bank thinks requires vigilance and agility,” Investec analyst Sandra Horsfield says in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
The case, brought by several NGOs and the city of Paris, is based upon a 2017 law that imposed a "duty of vigilance" on large companies.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
They seemed to be carved out of huge blocks of stone, immovable, and yet they were aware: some dreadful spirit of evil vigilance abode in them.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
