vigilante
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
George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Could bond vigilantes again check the Trump agenda?
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 15 May 2025
So there's going to be people, vigilantes, superheroes that are involved in that.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 13 May 2025
Peter Dinklage plays the title role, a janitor who becomes a CEO-fighting vigilante after falling into toxic waste and transforming into a mutant with superhuman size and strength.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilante
Cite this Entry
“Vigilante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigilante. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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vigilante
noun
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