vigilante

American  

[vij-uh-lan-tee] / ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn ti /

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.

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adjective

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

   vigilante justice.

vigilante British  

/ ˌvɪdʒɪˈlæntɪ /

noun

1. one of an organized group of citizens who take upon themselves the protection of their district, properties, etc

2. Also called: vigilance man.  a member of a vigilance committee

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Other Word Forms

• vigilanteism noun
• vigilantism noun

Etymology

Origin of vigilante

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

Explanation

If you’re a vigilante, you might take the law into your own hands by trying to catch or punish someone in your own way. If you wrestle jaywalkers down to the ground, you might be called a vigilante. Vigilante is a form of the word vigilant, which means "keeping a watchful or close eye on events and people." Sometimes a vigilante will make news for catching a criminal, and sometimes vigilante groups form to target crimes in a bad neighborhood. A common combined use is "vigilante justice," which refers to a form of law-keeping outside of the official channels of police and the courts.

Example Sentences

Indeed, a nemesis dismisses John Cena’s namesake vigilante, whose real name is Chris Smith, as “a jingoistic garbage person with the musical taste of the next-door bully from ‘Toy Story.’”

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025

She had a starring role in Josh Margolin’s 2024 movie “Thelma,” an action comedy about an unlikely 93-year-old vigilante who jumps on a motorized scooter to reclaim the money she lost in a scam.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

But standing in their way is 71-year-old Sliwa, a Guardian Angel and subway vigilante who cemented his place in city lore after surviving five gunshot wounds in an alleged mob hit in 1992.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025

From the 1990s, he became known for larger-than-life vigilante roles and portrayals of spiritual figures like Sri Raghavendrar and Baba.

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2025

“That’s what we should do, Hazel Grace: We should team up and be this disabled vigilante duo roaring through the world, righting wrongs, defending the weak, protecting the endangered.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green