warrant

American  

[wawr-uhnt, wor-] / ˈwɔr ənt, ˈwɒr- /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

warrant Idioms  

1. see sign one's own death warrant.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of warrant

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; see guaranty

Explanation

If you watch cop shows, you know that a warrant is something police need to get into your house — a permission slip from a judge. It's a noun! It's a verb! It's a word that warrants our attention! As a noun, it's the piece of paper they show you through the keyhole during an investigation. It's also a reason for doing something, or a promise (think of the warranty on your new car, the promise that it'll work for a certain amount of time). As a verb, it means to make something seem reasonable or necessary, such as when the ticking suitcase warrants bringing in the bomb squad, or when the teenager's sneaking in late again warrants a stricter curfew.

Example Sentences

Trump added, “Chief Warrant Officer Slover is still recovering from his serious wounds, but I’m thrilled to say that he is here tonight with his wife, Amy. Eric and Amy, come on in.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Appeared in the November 20, 2025, print edition as 'Israel Asks ICC to Throw Out Warrant for Netanyahu'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

The Royal Warrant Holders Association said: "We do not comment on individual businesses or individual Royal Warrants."

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

The Royal Warrant Holders Association declined to confirm when Mowi's warrant was removed or the reason for its removal.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

Warrant Officer Swart prepared a final meal for all of us, and I thanked him not only for the food he had provided for the last two years but the companionship.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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