errant

[ er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. deviating from the regular or proper course; erring; erring; straying.
2. journeying or traveling, as a medieval knight in quest of adventure; roving adventurously.
3. moving in an aimless or lightly changing manner:

   an errant breeze.

errant

/ ˈɛrənt /

adjective

1. archaic.
   wandering in search of adventure
2. erring or straying from the right course or accepted standards

Derived Forms

• ˈerrantly, adverb

Other Words From

• errant·ly adverb
• non·errant adjective
• non·errant·ly adverb
• un·errant adjective
• un·errant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of errant¹

1300–50; Middle English erraunt < Middle French, Old French errant, present participle of errer, edrer to travel < Vulgar Latin *iterāre to journey, for Late Latin itinerārī, derivative of iter, stem itiner- journey ( itinerary ); confused with Middle French errant, present participle of errer to err

Word History and Origins

Origin of errant¹

C14: from Old French: journeying, from Vulgar Latin iterāre (unattested), from Latin iter journey; influenced by Latin errāre to err

Example Sentences

It said the high number of civilian deaths was largely due to Israel's use of weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas, although some deaths may have been the result of errant projectiles by Palestinian armed groups.

From BBC

The agency said the high number was largely due to Israel's use of weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas, although some deaths may have been the result of errant projectiles by Palestinian armed groups.

From BBC

They rode their luck at times and were thankful for some errant finishing from the Italians, but what they delivered was pragmatic and mature.

From BBC

As of today, it is still possible that Harris wins this thing comfortably, that pollsters have made a handful of errant assumptions about the electorate to compensate for their perceived failings in 2016 and 2020, or even that the polls just missed systematically in Democrats’ direction for the first time since 2012.

From Slate

The Russian plane may have been trying to re-establish the contact with the errant drone, but as they were both flying into a Ukrainian air defence zone, it is assumed a decision was made to destroy the Okhotnik to prevent it ending up in enemy hands.

From BBC

Related Words

• aberrant
• erratic
• offending
• stray
• unorthodox
• wayward