vindications

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...
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

   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
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...

See all 8 meanings of vindication