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Added 10 October 2026

vigilante

/ˌvɪd͡ʒ.ɪˈlæn.ti/ noun

Latin root: vigilans Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about vigilante at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A member of a vigilance committee. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
A person who acts outside of legal authority, often violently, to punish or avenge a crime, right a perceived wrong, etc.

Origin

Borrowed from Spanish vigilante (“watchman, guard”), from Latin vigilans. Doublet of vigilant.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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