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; guaranty

Example Sentences

If an agent fired after a weapon was already secured and the suspect was under control, investigate, preserve evidence, release bodycam where legally possible, and prosecute if warranted.

From The Wall Street Journal

Agents shouldn’t enter private homes without warrants or detain U.S. citizens, most Americans say.

From The Wall Street Journal

And so far, investors have been largely unfazed by its valuation, arguing that the company’s steady revenue and earnings growth, market share gains, and successful forays into digital commerce warrant a higher price.

From Barron's

It’s not unusual for policymakers to change course on interest rates as conditions warrant.

From Los Angeles Times

In a famous 1971 case known as Bivens, the court allowed a lawsuit against federal drug agents who entered a man’s house without a warrant and arrested him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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