vigilante
A vigilante is a person who claims to enforce law and order by their own initiative but lacks legal authority to do so. Vigilantes operate by using actual or threatened force and are distinguished from people who simply watch out for criminal behavior and report it to the police. They are often motivated by a desire to avenge a perceived harm or injustice.
Examples of real-life vigilantes include a man who attacked registered sex offenders in the name of retribution, and a mother who shot her daughter’s murderer during his trial. Both went to prison for their actions.
[Last reviewed in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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