adjective
-
archaic wandering in search of adventure
-
erring or straying from the right course or accepted standards
Other Word Forms
- errantly adverb
- nonerrant adjective
- nonerrantly adverb
- unerrant adjective
- unerrantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of errant
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And if AI agents are not kept on course by a human, they could misunderstand an instruction and wander down an errant processing path, resulting in a business paying for wasted computing power.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
Bradley, Bryant wrote, directed “comprehensive lookbacks” on civilian casualties in errant strikes and used the findings to mandate changes.
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026
It isn’t just an errant prince, the critics say, but a former Labour cabinet member, Peter Mandelson, who has had his collar felt by the law.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
"Sorry, Bruce," said the 34-year-old, who was slightly errant again with her opening rock of the third end.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
Grandma tucked some errant strands of hair behind her ear.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
