Legal Definitions - vindicate

Vindicate (verb) means to clear someone or something from suspicion, criticism, blame, or doubt. It can also mean to assert or defend one's interest against interference or encroachment. In Roman and civil law, it means to assert a legal right to something and seek recovery of it by legal process.

• The DNA tests vindicated the suspect and cleared him of any wrongdoing.
• The company sought to vindicate its reputation by taking legal action against the false accusations.
• The borrower vindicated their interest in court when the lender tried to foreclose on their property.

These examples illustrate how vindicate can be used in different contexts. In the first example, the suspect was cleared of suspicion through DNA tests. In the second example, the company took legal action to defend its reputation. In the third example, the borrower defended their interest in their property through legal means.