vindicate

[vin-di-keyt]

verb (used with object)

vindicated, vindicating 

1. to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like.

   to vindicate someone's honor.

   Synonyms: exonerate

2. to afford justification for; justify.

   Subsequent events vindicated his policy.

3. to uphold or justify by argument or evidence.

   to vindicate a claim.

   Synonyms: substantiate

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

   Synonyms: substantiate

5. to claim for oneself or another.

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

7. to get revenge for; avenge.

8. Obsolete.,  to deliver from; liberate.

9. Obsolete.,  to punish.

vindicate

/ ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to clear from guilt, accusation, blame, etc, as by evidence or argument

2. to provide justification for

   his promotion vindicated his unconventional attitude

3. to uphold, maintain, or defend (a cause, etc)

   to vindicate a claim

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

5. rare,  to claim, as for oneself or another

6. obsolete,  to take revenge on or for; punish

7. obsolete,  to set free

Other Word Forms

• vindicator noun
• revindicate verb (used with object)
• self-vindicated adjective
• self-vindicating adjective
• unvindicated adjective
• vindicatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vindicate¹

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 -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vindicate¹

C17: from Latin vindicāre, from vindex claimant

Example Sentences

The administration expects to be vindicated by a higher court, the spokeswoman added.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It’s vindicating,” says Heather Reynolds of Dallas, who has been looking for work since being laid off by a financial-services company in March.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And it would vindicate the Dodgers’ strategy of all but mothballing an elite starting pitcher for almost three weeks and then handing him the ball and asking him to win them the division series.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And the oppressed sense their moral superiority vindicated against an evil.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A lawyer for Mr Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, issued a short staying saying: "Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• absolve 
• acquit 
• corroborate 
• defend 
• disprove 
• exonerate 
• justify 
• prove 
• refute 
• substantiate 
• uphold