vigilante

noun

vig·​i·​lan·​te ˌvi-jə-ˈlan-tē How to pronounce vigilante (audio)
: 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
vigilantism 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

the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people
Recent Examples on the Web The episode presented stunning spectacle, while saving its true horrors for the quake’s aftermath, when Japanese vigilantes began massacring Koreans. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2024 As Patience Phillips, Berry confidently donned a leather suit, wielded a black whip, and swung into vigilante mode in the standalone DC superhero flick Catwoman (2004). Rendy Jones, EW.com, 19 July 2024 Since the pandemic, a group of PMI projects have been shot in the Cayman Islands — including Ron Perlman’s vigilante action movie The Baker and Don Johnson’s thriller Unit 234 — under a multi-production pact made with the self-governing British territory’s film commission. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2024 Some were planted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, others by Protestant vigilantes. Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vigilante 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vigilante.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, watchman, guard, from vigilante vigilant, from Latin vigilant-, vigilans

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vigilante was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near vigilante

Cite this Entry

“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigilante. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

vigilante

noun
vig·​i·​lan·​te ˌvij-ə-ˈlant-ē How to pronounce vigilante (audio)
: a member of a group of volunteers who decide on their own to stop crime and to punish criminals

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