vigilante
noun
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The Meaning and Origin of Vigilante
Vigilante entered English in the 19th century, borrowed from the Spanish word of the same spelling which meant “watchman, guard” in that language. The Spanish word can be traced back to the Latin vigilare, meaning “to keep awake.” The earliest use of the word in English was to refer to a member of a vigilance committee, a committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily, as when the processes of law appear inadequate. The word may often be found in an attributive role, as in the phrases “vigilante justice,” or “vigilante group.” In this slightly broadened sense it carries the suggestion of the enforcement of laws without regard to due process or the general rule of law.
Examples of vigilante in a Sentence
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 June 2025
Among the novel’s central characters are people engaged in trafficking, a vigilante intent on stopping drug dealers, and the ghost of a man murdered in the first book.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Will bond vigilantes be the force that saves Chicago from the city and state politicians unwilling to restore fiscal sanity?
—Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
Fiscal pump priming to juice growth might provoke the bond vigilantes.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Cite this Entry
“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigilante. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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vigilante
noun
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