vigilante
noun/ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænti/
/ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænti/
(sometimes disapproving)- a member of a group of people who try to prevent crime or punish criminals in their community, especially because they think the police are not doing this
- vigilantes patrolling the streets
- vigilante groups
- The neighbours have formed a vigilante group to keep a watch on the car park.
- Two vigilantes who took the law into their own hands were cleared yesterday of murder.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryVigilante is used before these nouns:- justice
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘vigilant’.Want to learn more?
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vigilante