# vindication

/vɪndəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /vˌɪndɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vindication
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.