noun
Common
warrant
WO-ruhnt
Warrant (noun) means an official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search. Example: “Officers cannot enter the flat without a warrant signed by a magistrate.”
noun
1
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."
"Police obtained a warrant before searching the property."
"The judge issued an arrest warrant for the suspect."
verb
1
To justify or provide sufficient grounds for something.
"The minor delay hardly warrants a formal complaint."
"The evidence didn't warrant such a harsh punishment."
"Her outstanding work warranted a promotion."
2
To guarantee or give assurance that something is true or of a certain quality.
"The manufacturer warrants that each part is free from faults."
"I can't warrant that the old map is still accurate."
"The seller warranted that the goods were free from defects."
How to use warrant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a noun, official legal permission to do something (like search a house); as a verb, to justify or to guarantee.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with warranty (a guarantee on a product) — warrant most often refers to legal authorisation or justification.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
search warrant
arrest warrant
warrant further investigation
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- warrants
- Past tense
- warranted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Officers cannot enter the flat without a _____ signed by a magistrate.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman warant, ultimately from a Frankish word meaning "to protect" or "to guard," related to "ward."
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
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