vigilante

vig·i·lan·te

V0097600 (vĭj′ə-lăn′tē)n. A person who is not a member of law enforcement but who pursues and punishes persons suspected of lawbreaking.

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

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vig′i·lan′tism (-lăn′tĭz-əm), vig′i·lan′te·ism (-tē-ĭz′əm) n.

vigilante

(ˌvɪdʒɪˈlæntɪ) n1. one of an organized group of citizens who take upon themselves the protection of their district, properties, etc2. Also called: vigilance man US a member of a vigilance committee[C19: from Spanish, from Latin vigilāre to keep watch]

vig•i•lan•te

(ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn ti)

n., pl. -tes. 1. a member of a vigilance committee. 2. any person who assumes the authority of the law, as by avenging a crime. [1825–35;< Sp: vigilant] vig`i•lan′tism, n.

vigilante

A person who unlawfully takes the enforcement of law into his or her own hands.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

vigilante - member of a vigilance committee vigilance manunpaid worker, volunteer - a person who performs voluntary work

Translations

vigilante