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CEFR C2 — Proficiency

Vigilante

Definition

(often derogatory) A person who takes the law into their own hands by punishing suspected criminals without legal authority, typically because they believe the official justice system is inadequate. The term originated in 19th-century American frontier communities and carries strong connotations of extralegal violence and moral self-righteousness. Collocates with: group, justice, action, attack, mentality.

Example Sentences

1The rise of vigilante groups in the region has been attributed to widespread distrust in the police force.
2Is vigilante justice ever morally defensible, or does it inevitably erode the rule of law?
3The defendant did not deny his actions but insisted he was not a vigilante, claiming he had acted in self-defence.
4Consider how the novel critiques the vigilante mentality through its portrayal of the protagonist's descent into brutality.
5There is a troubling romanticisation of the vigilante figure in popular culture, from comic-book heroes to revenge thrillers.

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