Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: Office of Environmental Quality
A vigilante is someone who takes the law into their own hands, without having the legal power to do so. They use force or the threat of force to try and make things right, instead of just reporting crimes to the police. Vigilantes often act because they feel like they need to get revenge for something they think is wrong.
Definition: A vigilante is someone who takes the law into their own hands without having the legal authority to do so. They use force or the threat of force to enforce their own idea of justice. Vigilantes are different from people who simply report criminal behavior to the police.
Vigilantes are often motivated by a desire to seek revenge for a perceived harm or injustice. They believe that the legal system has failed to provide justice, so they take matters into their own hands.
These examples illustrate the definition of a vigilante because they all involve individuals taking the law into their own hands without having the legal authority to do so. They are motivated by a desire to seek justice or revenge, and they use force or the threat of force to achieve their goals. However, their actions are not sanctioned by the legal system, and they may be breaking the law themselves.