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

Michelle’s confession will vindicate such sacrifices — it will make Teddy and Don’s invisible lives exceptional.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bereaved families who had pushed for a prosecution feel vindicated, to a degree, by the judge's remarks about the Parachute Regiment's actions on Bloody Sunday.

Read more on BBC

Ms Giuffre's brother, Mr Roberts, told BBC Newsnight: "We have shed a lot of happy and sad tears today. I think happy because in a lot of ways this vindicates Virginia."

Read more on BBC

When she died of the plague a few years later, they felt vindicated; one particularly judgy saint ascribed it to her use of a “certain golden instrument.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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