citizen's arrest
noun
: an arrest made not by a law officer but by a citizen who derives authority from the fact of being a citizen
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The prosecution's presentation of the evidence and surgically precise cross-examination of Travis McMichael, the shooter, on the stand, left in shreds the preposterous citizen's arrest/self-defense contentions that were raised. 
Areva Martin, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 The defense attorneys contend Arbery was mistakenly identified as a suspect in local burglaries, and was killed while trying to escape from the three men during a citizen's arrest. Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 Fox's lawyer argued that the citizen's arrest comment showed that Fox wasn't really up for kidnapping the government, but instead suggested an alternative. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2022 Prosecutors argued the pursuers acted on rumors and had no immediate knowledge Arbery had committed a crime, which is required to claim a citizen's arrest. Pamela Kirkland, CNN, 16 Feb. 2022 Dunikoski says the defendants had no right to make a citizen's arrest. CBS News, 27 Nov. 2021 The killing played a critical role in Georgia's push to pass a hate crime bill into law and the overhaul of the state's citizen's arrest law. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 6 Mar. 2022 The potential loosening of restrictions feels like a setback for gun safety advocates who saw Georgia's repeal last year of a citizen's arrest law predating the Civil War as a step forward in the wake of Arbery's death. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 The property owner attempted a citizen's arrest for trespassing and informed police of the incident, according to the Daily Mail and The Sun. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 24 Feb. 2022 See More
Areva Martin, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 The defense attorneys contend Arbery was mistakenly identified as a suspect in local burglaries, and was killed while trying to escape from the three men during a citizen's arrest. Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 Fox's lawyer argued that the citizen's arrest comment showed that Fox wasn't really up for kidnapping the government, but instead suggested an alternative. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2022 Prosecutors argued the pursuers acted on rumors and had no immediate knowledge Arbery had committed a crime, which is required to claim a citizen's arrest. Pamela Kirkland, CNN, 16 Feb. 2022 Dunikoski says the defendants had no right to make a citizen's arrest. CBS News, 27 Nov. 2021 The killing played a critical role in Georgia's push to pass a hate crime bill into law and the overhaul of the state's citizen's arrest law. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 6 Mar. 2022 The potential loosening of restrictions feels like a setback for gun safety advocates who saw Georgia's repeal last year of a citizen's arrest law predating the Civil War as a step forward in the wake of Arbery's death. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 The property owner attempted a citizen's arrest for trespassing and informed police of the incident, according to the Daily Mail and The Sun. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 24 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1940, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
citizen's arrest
see arrest