Vigilante justice refers to actions taken by individuals or groups who try to enforce the law without legal authority. Those who perform vigilante justice, taking the law into their own hands, are known as vigilantes and are often driven by a desire for retribution against perceived injustices.
Vigilante justice can also describe a situation where multiple groups claim to enforce the law, leading to disorder.
Vigilante justice is often depicted in pop culture, as seen in comic books like Batman.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]