vigilante
[vij-uh-lan-tee]
- a member of a vigilance committee.
- any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.
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- done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice.
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Origin of vigilante
1825–35, Americanism; < Spanish: vigilant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
bandthrongmultitudecrowdvigilantesuperintendentangelchaperonguardsponsordefendersentineltrusteeescortnurseshepherdpaladinchampionsupervisorcustodianExamples from the Web for vigilante
Contemporary Examples
The lawless law enforcement in eastern Ukraine exists somewhere between Soviet rule and vigilante justice.
And lefties are hailing him as a Batman-like vigilante for taking down a Fox News superfan.
Meet Your New ‘Hot Mugshot Guy’: Sean Kory, Fox News’ Public Enemy No. 1Marlow Stern
November 3, 2014
Slavery, segregation, and abortion led to civil war, vigilante violence, and massive protest movements.
Will California nominate a vigilante, busted boarding an airplane with a loaded gun, as the Republican alternative for Governor?
A growing sex abuse scandal at the Ivy League institution has taken a vigilante turn.
Historical Examples
All those who had joined the vigilante movement were marked men.
The Story of the OutlawEmerson Hough
There's nothing I'm so sick of hearing as this vigilante stuff.
Laramie Holds the RangeFrank H. Spearman
"But I gave the vigilante his penny this morning," I said, hastening to the door.
The Fortunate IslesMary Stuart Boyd
"It's the vigilante," he said, returning to the veranda where we were sitting.
The Fortunate IslesMary Stuart Boyd
You don't mean to say she loves that Vigilante—that mining fellow?
Miss DividendsArchibald Clavering Gunter
vigilante
- one of an organized group of citizens who take upon themselves the protection of their district, properties, etc
- Also called: vigilance man US a member of a vigilance committee
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Word Origin
C19: from Spanish, from Latin vigilāre to keep watch
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
Word Origin and History for vigilante
n.
"member of a vigilance committee," 1856, American English, from Spanish vigilante, literally "watchman," from Latin vigilantem (see vigilance). Vigilant man in same sense is attested from 1824 in a Missouri context. Vigilance committees kept informal rough order on the frontier or in other places where official authority was imperfect.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper