vindicate

American  

[vin-di-keyt] / ˈvɪn dɪˌkeɪt /

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.

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vindicate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of vindicate

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

Explanation

Vindicate means to justify, prove, or reinforce an idea — or to absolve from guilt. If your family thinks you hogged the last piece of pie on Thanksgiving, you'll be vindicated when your younger brother fesses up. Vindicate derives from the Latin vindicatus, which is the past tense of vindicare, meaning "lay claim to" or "avenge." When a physicist proves a theory that his colleagues derided, he vindicates it. When a lawyer clears her client's name in a trial, she vindicates him. Machiavelli argued that the results he got vindicated his tactics — in other words, the ends justified the means.

Example Sentences

The need "to punish the club and to vindicate those clubs who have complied with the relevant rules" is referenced.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Megan notes that the data vindicate Fed officials’ decision to keep interest rates steady at the January meeting.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Julia and Mark discuss the remaining paths to justice after the killing of Renee Good and examine what happens when the DOJ abandons its duty to seek accountability and vindicate civil rights.

From Slate • Jan. 17, 2026

Criticized by Yankee pacifists for resorting to violence, Clay replied, “how then can you ask me to go unarmed and yet manfully vindicate those doctrines which every where have been denounced with death?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

Trouble arose only when authors used their stories to vindicate themselves against a great hurt or perceived injustice.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

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