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, writ, voucher, permit

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

Other Word Forms

• warrantless adjective
• warrantability noun
• warrantably adverb
• warrantable adjective
• warranter noun
• prewarrant noun
• rewarrant verb (used with object)
• self-warranting 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

The panel said Monguia abused his authority in some cases — including in September 2023, when a woman voluntarily showed up for a bench warrant with her child.

From Los Angeles Times

After the 2008 Pro Bowl player refused a field sobriety test, police said, a search warrant was obtained and a blood sample was taken at a hospital.

From Los Angeles Times

The Department of Homeland Security told the BBC's US partner CBS News that agents executed a search warrant due to allegations of "unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes".

From BBC

It also would bar school districts from providing information about pupils, their families, teachers and school employees to immigration authorities without a warrant.

From Los Angeles Times

Authorities obtained a search warrant for the property after receiving a report last month that someone at the property had a firearm, which are federally regulated in Canada.

From BBC

Related Words

• accreditation 
• certificate 
• credential 
• license 
• passport 
• permission 
• permit 
• pledge 
• sanction 
• subpoena 
• summons 
• ticket