vindication
n. C1 Advanced US //vɪndəˈkeɪʃən// UK //vˌɪndɪkˈeɪʃən// vin·di·ca·tion
n. the act of proving that someone is right or that a belief is true. It is like getting a 'yes' to a question you thought was wrong.
n. the action of proving that a belief or theory is correct, or that someone is innocent of a crime. Often implies a formal or public confirmation of a previous claim.
The new evidence was a complete vindication of his theory.
After years of being criticized for his management style, the successful merger provided a much-needed vindication.
The publication of the internal documents served as a total vindication of the whistleblower's claims, leading to a complete overhaul of the company's safety protocols.
From vindicate + -ion.