vigilante

[vij-uh-lan-tee]

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.

adjective

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

   vigilante justice.

vigilante

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• vigilanteism noun
• vigilantism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilante¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilante¹

C19: from Spanish, from Latin vigilāre to keep watch

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It isn’t clear that tapping the revenue for some of these proposals would draw the ire of bond vigilantes worried about the U.S. fiscal deficit.

Read more on Barron's

Local resentment is rising, with social media vigilantes putting misbehaving tourists on blast - even as the Balinese maintain their world-famous hospitality.

Read more on BBC

Do we really want to incentivize vigilantes like YouTube copycat Skeet Hansen, seen in the documentary machinating and uploading his own stakeouts, pitiful farces of justice with the catchphrase “You’ve just been Skeeted”?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The encampment faced violent attack April 30 and May 1, 2024, from a vigilante mob.

Read more on Los Angeles Times