vig‧i‧lan‧te /ˌvɪdʒəˈlænti, ˌvɪdʒɪˈlænti/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: 'person who keeps watch, guard', from Latin vigilans; ⇒ vigilant]
someone who illegally punishes criminals and tries to prevent crime, usually because they think the police are not doing this effectively
—vigilantism noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲