warrant

12 synonyms and 1 antonym for warrant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

permit guarantee

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

authorization mandate justify merit sanction endorsement

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

necessitate countenance indorsement imprimatur

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

An official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search.

“Officers cannot enter the flat without a warrant signed by a magistrate.”

authorization permit mandate justify merit necessitate countenance indorsement sanction guarantee imprimatur endorsement

2. verb

To justify or provide sufficient grounds for something.

“The minor delay hardly warrants a formal complaint.”

guarantee

3. verb

To guarantee or give assurance that something is true or of a certain quality.

“The manufacturer warrants that each part is free from faults.”

Opposites

invalidate

How to use warrant

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

search warrant arrest warrant warrant further investigation

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman warant, ultimately from a Frankish word meaning "to protect" or "to guard," related to "ward."

Full origin of warrant →

Frequently asked questions

What does “warrant” mean?

The word “warrant” means an official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search. In plain terms, as a noun, official legal permission to do something (like search a house); as a verb, to justify or to guarantee.

How do you pronounce “warrant”?

“Warrant” is pronounced WO-ruhnt (/ˈwɔɹənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “warrant” in a sentence?

Here is “warrant” used in a sentence: “Police obtained a warrant before searching the property.”

What part of speech is “warrant”?

Depending on how it is used, “warrant” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “warrant” come from?

The word “warrant” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman warant, ultimately from a Frankish word meaning "to protect" or "to guard," related to "ward.".

Is “warrant” a common word?

“Warrant” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “warrant” have?

“Warrant” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search.

What is the difference between a warrant and a subpoena?

A warrant is an official document from a court or authority giving legal permission for an action such as an arrest or search, while a subpoena is an order requiring a person to appear in court or produce documents. A warrant authorises officials to act, whereas a subpoena compels an individual to cooperate.

What is the difference between an arrest warrant and a search warrant?

An arrest warrant gives legal permission to detain a named person, while a search warrant gives permission to enter and search a specified place for evidence. Both are court-issued documents, but one targets a person and the other targets a location.

What is the difference between 'warrant' and 'justify'?

Both can mean to provide good reasons for something, and they often overlap, as in 'this warrants action' or 'this justifies action'. 'Warrant' tends to suggest that circumstances make an action reasonable or necessary, while 'justify' often stresses defending or proving that an action is right.

People also searched

guarantee permit justify merit mandate authorization endorsement sanction invalidate necessitate countenance indorsement

Nearby words

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