vigilante
pronunciation
How to pronounce vigilante in British English:
UK [ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænti]
How to pronounce vigilante in American English:
US [ˌvɪdʒəˈlænti]
-
- Noun:
- member of a vigilance committee
Word Origin
- vigilante (n.)
- "member of a vigilance committee," 1856, American English, from Spanish vigilante, literally "watchman," from Latin vigilantem (nominative vigilans) "watchful, anxious, careful," from vigil (see vigil). Vigilant man in same sense is attested from 1824 in a Missouri context. Vigilance committees kept informal rough order on the U.S. frontier or in other places where official authority was imperfect.
Example
- 1. Piracy here is a combination of brazen criminality and vigilante redressing of economic imbalance .
- 2. Are you an urban vigilante ?
- 3. It 's bad enough that you 're out every night playing vigilante .
- 4. You 're just the latest reigning vigilante self-appointed culture watchdogs of the moment .
- 5. Local residents are forming their own vigilante groups .