vigilante [vij-uh -lan -tee]
Examples Word Origin
a member of a vigilance committee. any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime. Show More
done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice. Show More
Origin of vigilante 1825–35, Americanism Spanish: vigilant
Related forms 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/ noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vigilantism Contemporary Examples of 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 US the methods, conduct, attitudes, etc, associated with vigilantes, esp militancy, bigotry, or suspiciousness Show More
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 Show More
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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Word Origin and History for vigilantism 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
