vigilante

noun

vig·i·lan·te | \ ˌvi-jə-ˈlan-tē

Definition of vigilante

: a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law are viewed as inadequate) broadly : a self-appointed doer of justice

Other Words from vigilante Synonyms The Meaning and Origin of Vigilante Example Sentences Learn More about vigilante

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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

the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people

Recent Examples on the Web

Now even a hint of a kiss is forbidden in Egyptian movies, song lyrics are sanitized, and moral vigilantes hound artists through the courts. — Declan Walsh, New York Times, "Foreign Belly Dancers? Egyptians Shake Their Heads (and Hips)," 8 July 2018 Citizens, left unprotected, turn to vigilantes or rebels, while the middle class hires guards. — Ann Toews, WSJ, "‘A Savage Order’ Review: When a State Fuels Bloodshed," 11 Dec. 2018 But as our government ceases to function in normal and needed ways the power of social media vigilantes has grown. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "The Supremacy of the Internet Mob," 19 Apr. 2018 In 1993’s Venom: Lethal Protector, written by Michelinie and drawn by main artist Mark Bagley, Venom serves as a vigilante of sorts and protects the poor and homeless people in San Francisco. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Venom, Spider-Man’s symbiote supervillain, explained," 3 Oct. 2018 Where other vigilantes might appeal to their own, individual codes of justice, the preacher figure carries the authority to discharge God’s justice. — Steve Pinkerton, Houston Chronicle, "Why Americans are fascinated by gunfighting preachers," 7 July 2018 Literally, there were vigilantes that would sit across the alley from it and just wait. — refinery29.com, "IRL Besties Jonathan Van Ness & Margaret Cho Tell Us Their Best Pride Stories," 15 June 2018 Venom’s co-creator McFarlane, who first gained acclaim working on Spider-Man, would go on to create Spawn, a comic book about a demonic vigilante that was wildly popular in the ’90s. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Venom, Spider-Man’s symbiote supervillain, explained," 3 Oct. 2018 But in January, this same vigilante group killed three dogs and nobody got in trouble. — New York Times, "Killer Dogs Take 14 Lives. Did Closing Slaughterhouses Play a Role?," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vigilante.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.