vigilante
a member of a vigilance committee.
any person who takes the law into their own hands, such as by avenging a crime.
done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice.
Origin of vigilante
1Other words from vigilante
- vig·i·lan·te·ism, vig·i·lan·tism [vij-uh-lan-tiz-uhm, vij-uh-luhn-tiz-uhm], /ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn tɪz əm, ˈvɪdʒ ə lənˌtɪz əm/, noun
Words that may be confused with vigilante
- vigilant, vigilante
Words Nearby vigilante
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use vigilante in a sentence
In Oregon, fears about “antifa” are emboldening militia groups and others to set up identity checkpoints, and some of these vigilantes are using Facebook and Twitter as infrastructure to track those who they deem suspicious.
Thank you for posting: Smoking’s lessons for regulating social media | Bobbie Johnson | October 5, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewAlthough military officers continue to express formal commitment to keeping the military nonpoliticized, such actions, if taken, may result in a violent backlash by left-wing vigilantes.
Election Violence In November? Here’s What The Research Says | LGBTQ-Editor | October 2, 2020 | No Straight NewsYardeni coined the term “bond vigilantes” in the early 1980s.
America’s $20 trillion debt is getting cheaper as it grows | McKenna Moore | September 12, 2020 | FortuneSocial-media companies need to work actively to prevent militias and vigilante groups from staging these armed standoffs.
How an overload of riot porn is driving conflict in the streets | Bobbie Johnson | September 3, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThe ensuing free speech fight unleashed water-hose crowd control, vicious vigilantes and an abusive police chief.
‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’: Why San Diego Banned ‘Seditious’ Talk in 1918 | Randy Dotinga | August 4, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
If the idea of a religious vigilante ambushing sex workers in his spare time sets off alarm bells, it probably should.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show | Samantha Allen | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe lawless law enforcement in eastern Ukraine exists somewhere between Soviet rule and vigilante justice.
The Corrupt Cops of Rebel-Held East Ukraine | Kristina Jovanovski | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd 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. 1 | Marlow Stern | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMy father had to fly back to town to keep his uncles from enacting vigilante justice over the death.
Slavery, segregation, and abortion led to civil war, vigilante violence, and massive protest movements.
It was in Bongao we first made the acquaintance of Toolawee, the chief vigilante of Sulu.
A Woman's Journey through the Philippines | Florence Kimball RusselMy luck was pretty good, and I'd have stuffed my wallet had not a sort of Puritan vigilante blown in.
Northwest! | Harold BindlossBut that's over now—they gave me hell for inciting vigilante action, and confined me inside the dome.
Police Your Planet | Lester del ReyWives of vigilante members were struck from invitation lists in important affairs.
Port O' Gold | Louis John StellmanSuddenly the Governor slapped the vigilante chief a rousing whack upon the shoulder.
Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman
British Dictionary definitions for vigilante
/ (ˌvɪdʒɪˈlæntɪ) /
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
Origin of vigilante
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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