Standard Lemma guide

vigilantism

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: V IH2 JH AH0 L AE1 N T IH0 Z AH0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The activities of a vigilante; acting outside of legal authority, often violently, to punish or avenge a crime, right a perceived wrong, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the actions of a vigilance committee in trying to enforce the laws

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: law enforcement

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English vigilante Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English vigilantism From vigilante + -ism.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vigilantismi — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Finnish: omankädenoikeus — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • German: Vigilantismus — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • German: Vigilantentum — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • German: Selbstjustiz — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Hungarian: önbíráskodás — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Hungarian: önkéntes/önjelölt polgárőrség — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Hungarian: önkényes igazságosztás/rendfenntartás — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Hungarian: vigilantizmus — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Spanish: vigilantismo — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands
  • Spanish: justicierismo — activities of vigilante — see also lynching, taking the law into one's own hands