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A person who acts outside of legal authority, often violently, to punish or avenge a crime, right a perceived wrong, etc.
2005, Hazel E. Nelson, Cognitive-behavioural therapy with delusions and hallucinations, page 217:
For example, a voice accusing a man of being a paedophile might be based on recent TV news programmes about antipaedophile vigilante groups, plus the memory of having been accused of being a pervert by a neighbour, plus fears that he might be a secret paedophile because he enjoyed reading Lolita.
2011, Richard Zelade, Lone Star Travel Guide to Central Texas, page 274:
Jeptha Billingsley, who was no prize pig himself (he had been arrested for horse theft and assault with intent to murder), was to be taught a lesson, and the vigilantes made him cut down the McLemores.