Dictionary

vigilante en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌvɪd͡ʒ.ɪˈlæn.ti/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌvɪd͡ʒ.ɪˈlɑːn.teɪ/ (UK)
• /ˌvɪd͡ʒ.əˈlæn.ti/ (US)

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish vigilante (“watchman, guard”), from Latin vigilans. Doublet of vigilant.

Meanings

1. A member of a vigilance committee.
2. A person who acts outside of legal authority, often violently, to punish or avenge a crime, right a perceived wrong, etc.
   • For example, a voice accusing a man of being a paedophile might be based on recent TV news programmes about antipaedophile vigilante groups, plus the memory of having been accused of being a pervert by a neighbour, plus fears that he might be a secret paedophile because he enjoyed reading Lolita. 2005, Hazel E. Nelson, Cognitive-behavioural therapy with delusions and hallucinations, page 217:
   • Jeptha Billingsley, who was no prize pig himself (he had been arrested for horse theft and assault with intent to murder), was to be taught a lesson, and the vigilantes made him cut down the McLemores. 2011, Richard Zelade, Lone Star Travel Guide to Central Texas, page 274:

Forms

Deriveds

vigilanteism · vigilantism · vigilantelike · antivigilante · vigilantist · bond vigilante · cybervigilante · digilante

Translations (31)

nl eigenrechter (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ja 自警団員 (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · nl lid van een waakzaamheidscomité (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru дружи́нник (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · tr kabadayı (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · fr justicier (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · cmn 治安會會員 /治安会会员 (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · hu önkényes igazságosztó/rendfenntartó (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru член «комите́та бди́тельности» (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · th ศาลเตี้ย (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru черносо́тенец (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru погро́мщик (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · es vigilantista (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru охотноря́дец (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru хунвэйби́н (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru дружи́нница (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · pt justiceiro (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · el εθελοντής φρουρός (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru титу́шка (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · el εκδικητής (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · el βιτζιλάντε (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · hu önkéntes/önjelölt polgárőr (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · fi omankädenoikeuden käyttäjä (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · hu önbíráskodó (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · pl but see samozwańczy obrońca (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · de Bürgerwehrler (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · es justiciero (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · de Mitglied einer Bürgerwehr (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · cmn 義務警員 /义务警员 (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · fo sjálvrættarmaður (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law) · ru виджила́нте (person who considers it their responsibility to summarily uphold the law)