vig·i·lan·te /ˌvɪdʒəˈlænti/ noun [countableC] SSOSCCsomeone who illegally punishes criminals and tries to prevent crime, usually because they think the police are not doing this effectively 民间护法者,义务警察〔指因认为警方办事不力而私自非法惩治罪犯、试图防止犯罪的人〕 —vigilantism noun [uncountableU]