search warrant

American  

noun

Law.

search warrants plural

1. a court order authorizing the examination of a dwelling or other private premises by police officials, as for stolen goods.

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search warrant British  

noun

1. a written order issued by a justice of the peace authorizing a constable or other officer to enter and search premises for stolen goods, drugs, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• search warrants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of search warrant

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

search warrant

FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Virginia home of Washington Post reporter, Hannah Natanson, earlier this year as part of an investigation into alleged mishandling of classified information by a government contractor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

The court stopped short of deciding the proper basis for a search warrant in such cases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Trash, we learn, is no longer private once it hits the curb: Sidewalks are public enough that no search warrant is needed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokesperson, said FBI agents are serving a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into the Garden Grove aerospace business.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

After Etta, he said, the path to Ole Jurgensen was clear, and from Ole to Judge Lew Fielding’s chambers: Art had needed a search warrant.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• summons