English Dictionary

Definition of “vindicate

vindicate (ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪtPronunciation for vindicate

Definitions

verb (tr)

  1. to clear from guilt, accusation, blame, etc, as by evidence or argument
  2. to provide justification for  ⇒ his promotion vindicated his unconventional attitude 
  3. to uphold, maintain, or defend (a cause, etc)  ⇒ to vindicate a claim 
  4. Roman law to bring an action to regain possession of (property) under claim of legal title
  5. rare to claim, as for oneself or another
  6. obsolete to take revenge on or for; punish
  7. obsolete to set free

Alternative Forms

ˈvindiˌcator noun ˈvindiˌcatory adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin vindicāre,  from vindex claimant

Usage examples

  • Gregory, as if to vindicate his master, rolled on to his back and began to wave all four legs in the air.
    Tapply, William G, The Dutch Blue Error (1985)
  • Recent data appears to vindicate the Fed's decision as the unemployment rate rose slightly in September, 1996, to 5.20 per cent.
    Business Today (1996)
  • Otherwise matric results will continue to vindicate the incorrect perception that white people are more intelligent than blacks.
    SA Star (2005)
  • Without pausing to vindicate their faith in God, they have helped to vindicate God's faith in us.
    Times, Sunday Times (2005)
  • There is, however, some reason to doubt that such an experiment would vindicate Kleinman's rosy view of psychotherapy.
    Dylan Evans, PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)

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