vigilante
[ vij-uh-lan-tee ]
/ ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn ti /
noun
a member of a vigilance committee.
any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.
adjective
done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice.
Words nearby vigilante
vigil mass, vigilambulism, vigilance, vigilance committee, vigilant, vigilante, vigilantism, vigilius, vigintillion, vigneron, vignette
Origin of vigilante
1825–35, Americanism; < Spanish: vigilant
OTHER WORDS FROM vigilante
vig·i·lan·te·ism, vig·i·lan·tism [vij-uh-lan-tiz-uh m, vij-uh-luh n-tiz-uh m] /ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn tɪz əm, ˈvɪdʒ ə lənˌtɪz əm/, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH vigilante
vigilant vigilanteDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for vigilantism
And people might think twice about Zimmerman-style vigilantism in the future, she said.
But it was never a place where vigilantism ensured arbitrary enforcement of codes of behavior.
They're concerned about Jones' tactics, Tangen explains, because he flirts with vigilantism and seems to court the media.
British Dictionary definitions for vigilantism (1 of 2)
vigilantism
/ (ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænˌtɪzəm) /
noun
US the methods, conduct, attitudes, etc, associated with vigilantes, esp militancy, bigotry, or suspiciousness
British Dictionary definitions for vigilantism (2 of 2)
vigilante
/ (ˌvɪdʒɪˈlæntɪ) /
noun
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
Word Origin for vigilante
C19: from Spanish, from Latin vigilāre to keep watch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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