vindication

UK: /ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/ ,(vin′di kā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vin•di•ca•tion  (vin′di kā′shən), n. 

1. the act of vindicating.
2. the state of being vindicated.
3. defense;
   excuse;
   justification:
   Poverty was a vindication for his thievery.
4. something that vindicates:
   Subsequent events were her vindication.

• Latin vindicātiōn- (stem of vindicātiō), equivalent. to vindicāt(us) (see vindicate) + -iōn- -ion
• 1475–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vindication / ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of vindicating or the condition of being vindicated
2. a fact, evidence, circumstance, etc, that serves to vindicate a theory or claim

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

vin•di•cate /ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion:
   to vindicate someone's honor.
2. to prove to be right or correct:
   His theory was vindicated by laboratory tests.

vin•di•ca•tion /ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. 

[countable] a vindication of the theory.

[uncountable] He wanted vindication.

vin•di•ca•tor, n. [countable] See -venge-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vin•di•cate  (vin′di kāt′), v.t., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like:
   to vindicate someone's honor.
2. to afford justification for;
   justify:
   Subsequent events vindicated his policy.
3. to uphold or justify by argument or evidence:
   to vindicate a claim.
4. to assert, maintain, or defend (a right, cause, etc.) against opposition.
5. to claim for oneself or another.
6. Law [Roman and Civil Law.] to regain possession, under claim of title of property through legal procedure, or to assert one's right to possession.
7. to get revenge for;
   avenge.
8. [Obs.] to deliver from;
   liberate.
9. [Obs.] to punish.

• Latin vindicātus (past participle of vindicāre to lay legal claim to (property), to free (someone) from servitude (by claiming him as free), to protect, avenge, punish), equivalent. to vindic- (stem of vindex claimant, protector, avenger) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1525–35

vin′di•ca′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. exonerate.
• 3, 4. support.