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Vigilante: meaning, definitions and examples

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vigilante

 

[ ˌvɪdʒ.əˈlæn.ti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

crime prevention

A vigilante is a person who takes the law into their own hands, often to seek justice or retribution outside of the legal system.

Synonyms

avenger, crusader, justice-seeker

Examples of usage

  • The town had a group of vigilantes who patrolled the streets at night.
  • The vigilante decided to take matters into his own hands when the police failed to act.
Context #2 | Noun

comics

In comic books and movies, a vigilante is often a superhero or masked crusader who fights crime and injustice.

Synonyms

crime-fighter, masked avenger, superhero

Examples of usage

  • Batman is a famous vigilante in the world of comics.
  • The vigilante character is known for taking down criminals with his own set of rules.

Translations

Translations of the word "vigilante" in other languages:

🇵🇹 justiceiro

🇮🇳 चौकसी करने वाला

🇩🇪 Selbstjustizler

🇮🇩 vigilante

🇺🇦 самосудник

🇵🇱 strażnik

🇯🇵 自警団員 (じけいだんいん)

🇫🇷 justicier

🇪🇸 vigilante

🇹🇷 kanun koruyucu

🇰🇷 자경단원

🇸🇦 الحارس

🇨🇿 mstitel

🇸🇰 pomstiteľ

🇨🇳 义务警员

🇸🇮 pravičnik

🇮🇸 réttarfarar

🇰🇿 өзісотқар

🇬🇪 მოწმე

🇦🇿 ədalətçi

🇲🇽 vigilante

Etymology

The word 'vigilante' originates from the Spanish word 'vigilante', which means 'watchman' or 'guard'. It was first used in the United States during the 19th century to describe self-appointed groups who carried out extrajudicial punishments. The concept of vigilantism has been a recurring theme in literature, film, and popular culture, often portraying individuals who take justice into their own hands.

See also: vigil, vigilance, vigilant.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,876, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.