— vigilanteism, vigilantism /vij'euh lan"tiz euhm, vij"euh leuhn tiz'euhm/ , n.
/vij'euh lan"tee/ , n.
1. a member of a vigilance committee.
2. any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.
adj.
3. done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice.
[ 1825-35, Amer.; ]