vindicate

[ vin-di-keyt ]
See synonyms for: vindicatevindicatedvindicator on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),vin·di·cat·ed, vin·di·cat·ing.
  1. to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone's honor.

  2. to afford justification for; justify: Subsequent events vindicated his policy.

  1. to uphold or justify by argument or evidence: to vindicate a claim.

  2. to assert, maintain, or defend (a right, cause, etc.) against opposition.

  3. to claim for oneself or another.

  4. Roman and Civil Law. to regain possession, under claim of title of property through legal procedure, or to assert one's right to possession.

  5. to get revenge for; avenge.

  6. Obsolete. to deliver from; liberate.

  7. Obsolete. to punish.

Origin of vindicate

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin vindicātus (past participle of vindicāre “to lay legal claim to (property); to free (someone) from servitude (by claiming him as free); to protect, avenge, punish),“ equivalent to vindic- (stem of vindex “claimant, protector, avenger”) + -ātus -ate1

Other words for vindicate

Other words from vindicate

  • vin·di·ca·tor, noun
  • re·vin·di·cate, verb (used with object), re·vin·di·cat·ed, re·vin·di·cat·ing.
  • self-vin·di·cat·ed, adjective
  • self-vin·di·cat·ing, adjective
  • un·vin·di·cat·ed, adjective

Words Nearby vindicate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use vindicate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vindicate

vindicate

/ (ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to clear from guilt, accusation, blame, etc, as by evidence or argument

  2. to provide justification for: his promotion vindicated his unconventional attitude

  1. to uphold, maintain, or defend (a cause, etc): to vindicate a claim

  2. Roman law to bring an action to regain possession of (property) under claim of legal title

  3. rare to claim, as for oneself or another

  4. obsolete to take revenge on or for; punish

  5. obsolete to set free

Origin of vindicate

1
C17: from Latin vindicāre, from vindex claimant

Derived forms of vindicate

  • vindicator, noun
  • vindicatory, adjective

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