The meaning of VIGILANTE is a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law are viewed as inadequate); broadly : a self-appointed doer of justice. The Meaning and Origin of Vigilante.

A vigilante is a person who practices or partakes in vigilantism, or undertakes public safety and retributive justice without commission. The term is borrowed from Italian vigilante, which means 'sentinel' or 'watcher', from Latin vigilāns.

VIGILANTE definition: 1. a person who tries in an unofficial way to prevent crime, or to catch and punish someone who has…. Learn more.

Vigilantes are people who organize themselves into an unofficial group to protect their community and to catch and punish criminals. The vigilantes dragged the men out. 2 senses: 1. one of an …

Vigilante is a form of the word vigilant, which means "keeping a watchful or close eye on events and people." Sometimes a vigilante will make news for catching a criminal, and sometimes vigilante groups form to target crimes in a bad neighborhood.

any person who takes the law into their own hands, such as by avenging a crime. vigilante justice. “Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins …

Definition of vigilante noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. 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. The neighbours have formed a vigilante group to keep a watch on the car park.