vigilante Hear it!

vigilante definition

vigi·lante (vij′ə lantē, -län-)

noun

  1. a member of a vigilance committee
  2. any individual who acts outside of legal authority, often violently, to punish or avenge a crime, right a perceived wrong, etc.

Etymology: Sp, watchman, orig., vigilant

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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