warrant

[ wawr-uhnt, wor- ]

noun

1. authorization, sanction, or justification.
2. something that serves to give reliable or formal assurance of something; guarantee, pledge, or security.

   Synonyms: surety, warranty

3. something considered as having the force of a guarantee or as being positive assurance of a thing:

   The cavalry and artillery were considered sure warrants of success.

4. a writing or document certifying or authorizing something, as a receipt, license, or commission.

   Synonyms: chit, order, voucher, permit, writ

5. Law. an instrument, issued by a magistrate, authorizing an officer to make an arrest, seize property, make a search, or carry a judgment into execution.
6. the certificate of authority or appointment issued to an officer of the armed forces below the rank of a commissioned officer.
7. a warehouse receipt.
8. a written authorization for the payment or receipt of money:

   a treasury warrant.

verb (used with object)

1. to give authority to; authorize.
2. to give reason or sanction for; account for:

   The circumstances warrant such measures.

   Synonyms: vindicate, validate, uphold, justify

3. to give one's word for; vouch for (often used with a clause to emphasize something asserted):

   I'll warrant he did!

   Synonyms: swear, attest, guarantee

4. to give a formal assurance, or a guarantee or promise, to or for; guarantee:

   to warrant someone honorable treatment; to warrant payment; to warrant safe delivery.

5. to guarantee the quantity, quality, and other representations of (an article, product, etc.), as to a purchaser.
6. to guarantee or secure title to (the purchaser of goods); assure indemnification against loss to.
7. Law. to guarantee title of an estate or other granted property (to a grantee).

warrant

/ ˈwɒrənt /

noun

1. anything that gives authority for an action or decision; authorization; sanction
2. a document that certifies or guarantees, such as a receipt for goods stored in a warehouse, a licence, or a commission
3. law an authorization issued by a magistrate or other official allowing a constable or other officer to search or seize property, arrest a person, or perform some other specified act
4. (in certain armed services) the official authority for the appointment of warrant officers
5. a security that functions as a stock option by giving the owner the right to buy ordinary shares in a company at a specified date, often at a specified price

verb

1. to guarantee the quality, condition, etc, of (something)
2. to give authority or power to
3. to attest to or assure the character, worthiness, etc, of
4. to guarantee (a purchaser of merchandise) against loss of, damage to, or misrepresentation concerning the merchandise
5. law to guarantee (the title to an estate or other property)
6. to declare boldly and confidently

Derived Forms

• ˈwarrantless, adjective
• ˌwarrantaˈbility, noun
• ˈwarrantably, adverb
• ˈwarrantable, adjective
• ˈwarranter, noun

Other Words From

• war·rant·less adjective
• pre·war·rant noun verb (used with object)
• re·war·rant verb (used with object)
• self-war·rant·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of warrant¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (noun) Middle English warant, from Anglo-French; Old French guarant, from Germanic; compare Middle Low German warend, warent “warranty,” noun use of present participle of waren “to warrant”; (verb) Middle English, from Anglo-French warantir; Old French g(u)arantir, derivative of guarant; guaranty

Word History and Origins

Origin of warrant¹

C13: from Anglo-French warrant, variant of Old French guarant, from guarantir to guarantee, of Germanic origin; compare guaranty

Idioms and Phrases

see sign one's own death warrant .

Example Sentences

Individuals with outstanding arrest warrants have been detained during the sweeps.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, the city must comply with a valid warrant issued by a federal or state judge, or any other applicable order.

From Los Angeles Times

A little over a week later, a Douglas County District Court judge ruled the affidavit in support of the warrant — which was never executed — remain sealed, according to court documents reviewed by The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Then in January 2022, court records say, Deputy 1 got a judge to approve a warrant for GPS location information needed to track several cellphones — including one that belonged to Zelocchi.

From Los Angeles Times

Judge Daniel Rafecas said the warrants would apply to those who had "convictions with definite prison sentences," Brazilian news outlet Globo reported.

From BBC

Related Words

• affirm
• approve
• call for
• ensure
• explain
• necessitate
• permit
• require
• stipulate
• undertake
• uphold