vindication

Noun

vindication (countable and uncountable, plural vindications)

1. (countable) An act of asserting or maintaining; an assertion.
   • [T]he loud "Aye, Aye" of the bulk of the members [of Parliament] supported [John] Eliot in his last vindication of English liberty.1874, J[ohn] R[ichard] Green, “Puritan England”, in A Short History of the English People, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, section III (The King and the Parliament. 1623–1629.), pages 489–490
2. (countable) An argument, fact, piece of evidence, etc., which vindicates (“clears someone of an accusation or suspicion; justifies a belief or claim by providing evidence or proof”).
   • The Soldiers publiſh'd a vindication, as they call'd it, of their Proceedings and Reſolutions, and directed it to their General; in vvhich they complain'd of a deſign to disband, and nevv model the Army; […] This Apology, or Vindication, being ſign'd by many inferior Officers, the Parliament...1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, book X, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume III, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the...
   • The great vindication of evil is, that (constituted as we are) we could not know so much joy, nor manifest so much virtue without it; and certainly, in instances like these, it fetches out, under circumstances of the extremest weakness, the most beautiful strength of the human heart.1844 January–December, Leigh Hunt, “Return to Sicily and Mount Ætna”, in A Jar of Honey from Mount Hybla, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 134
3. (uncountable) The action of vindicating; also, the state of being vindicated.
   • Among its [Milan's] Natural Curioſities I took particular notice of a Piece of Crystal, that enclos'd a couple of Drops, vvhich look'd like VVater vvhen they vvere ſhaken, tho' perhaps they are nothing but Bubbles of Air. […] The Famous Pere [Jean] Mabillon is novv engag'd in the Vindication of...1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Pavia, Milan, &c.”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 37
   • These are the reasons which I have gathered from philosophy and nature; to which I can add other circumstances in vindication of the account of this learned body who publish this almanack.1709 July 19 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Friday, July 9, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 39; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […]...

   Synonyms:

   absolution, avowance, exculpation, exoneration, acquittance, acquitment, acquittal, assoilment, compurgation, disculpation

   Antonyms:

   nonvindication

4. (uncountable) A feeling of deserved satisfaction that comes from being proven correct.
   • When they finally admitted their actions, Anne felt vindication and walked with pride once again.
5. (Ancient-Rome, countable, historical) A legal claim for a declaration that one is the owner of a thing or the holder of a right; an action in rem.
   • Coordinate term: condiction
   • [T]here also lies against them the action whereby we claim a thing as ours. Actions in rem are called vindications; while those in which we contend that something ought to be given to or done for us are called condictions.1880, “Commentarivs Qvartvs [Fourth Comment]”, in James Muirhead, transl., The Institutes of Gaius and Rules of Ulpian. […], Edinburgh: T[homas] & T[homas] Clark, […], →OCLC, page 268
6. (obsolete) The action of avenging or taking revenge.
   • [P]ublick Vindication of Injuries is not only lavvful, but neceſſary; […] For, vvithout this there vvould be no living, and Human Society could never ſtand. But as to private Vindication of Injuries, that vvhich vve more eſpecially call Revenge, this I ſhall readily allovv to be utterly unlavvful...1690, John Norris, “Christian Blessedness: Or, Discourses upon the Beatitudes. [Discourse the Third. Matth[ew] V. ver[se] v.]”, in Practical Discourses upon the Beatitudes of Our Lord and Saviour...
7. (obsolete, rare) The action of setting free; deliverance.
   • [T]he peoples affection binding it ſelfe to their redeemer; beſides a neceſſity to keepe them vnited vnto him by the meanes of ſo abhorred a neighbour, from vvhom their vindication, into liberty, muſt bee maintained by their ovvne conſtancy: […]1613, Antony Sherley [i.e., Anthony Shirley], Sir Antony Sherley His Relation of His Travels into Persia. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes and Melchisidec Bradwood] for Nathaniell Butter, and Ioseph...
8. (obsolete, rare) Punishment, retribution.
   • [T]hings carried ſo farre on in a vvrong vvay, muſt needs either inſlave themſelves and poſterity for ever, or require a vindication ſo ſharpe and ſmarting, as that the Nation vvould groane under it; […]1647, Thomas May, “A Briefe Relation of Some Grievances of the Kingdome. The Various Opinions of Men Concerning the Present Government. The Condition of the Court and Clergy of England. Some...