vigilante

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“
Another vigilante was arrested after allegedly burning down a store that the community had denounced for selling "immoral" clothing.

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Definitions (4)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands.
  2. noun A member of a vigilance committee.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Behaving like a vigilante, storming in without taking into consideration the consequences of my actions: the very thing that had led to my leaving the force, walking out before they could give me my marching orders. —  AHMM,April2008
  • But now a vigilante is roaming among the millions, executing those he feels deserve to die. —  DanceattheSlaughterhouse
  • Infamous vigilante, anti-hero Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) is six years into his vengeance driven zeal as the Punisher when he brutally assaults a "beat the rap" party for notorious mob boss Gaitano Cesare. —  AvaxHome RSS:
  • If the vigilante were under 18, they would be tried as a juvenile, and their court record will be expunged in just a few years. jimjimjimjimJACK 7 points 1 day ago grungemunky 4 points 18 hours ago you'll need to login or register to do that is it really that easy? only one way to find out ... —  reddit.com: what's new online!
  • Then again, one person's vigilante is another person's crime fighter. —  msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines
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This word has been looked up 66 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Spanish, watchman, vigilante, from Latin vigilāns, vigilant-, present participle of vigilāre, to be watchful, from vigil, watchful; see weg- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Spanish vigilante, vigilant: see vigilant, adjective
 

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/vɪdʒɪˈIæntɛ/
by American Heritage

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