A vigilante is an individual who takes the law into their own hands and acts as a self-appointed guardian of justice, often by meting out punishment to those they perceive as wrongdoers.
Usage examples
In the movie "The Dark Knight," Batman is depicted as a vigilante who takes the law into his own hands to fight crime.
The small town had been plagued by a series of burglaries, so a group of citizens formed a vigilante group to patrol the streets at night.
After a tragic event, a mother turned into a vigilante, seeking justice for her son by tracking down and punishing those responsible.
In some areas where law enforcement is scarce, residents may resort to forming vigilante groups to protect their neighborhoods from criminal activities.
The protagonist in the novel was tired of seeing corruption go unpunished, so she decided to become a vigilante, targeting dishonest politicians and businessmen.
On January 15, 2017, 350 firearms, including several AK 47 rifles were surrendered by repentant cattle rustlers and members of vigilante groups in katsina State at a ceremony in Kankara in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state. (punchng.com)
Your friendly neighborhood Vigilante Author has signed up with the online «Book Club Reading List,» which publicizes books and provides speakers for book clubs. (bidinotto.com)
Unflinching and compelling, this gutsy documentary blames governmental failure for the rise of vigilante groups who are taking on drug cartels either side of the Mexican border. (empireonline.com)