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

Rodger said a second incident involving Doherty on 6 March 2024, saw her access details about a search warrant being executed and pass on details about it to the same man as before.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Police investigators identified the suspect as a 16-year-old Oxnard boy and later obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 500 block of East 1st Street, according to police.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Exactly three months later, when Walter arrived in his private plane at Chicago Midway International Airport, federal agents stepped forward with a search warrant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

FBI agents executed a search warrant on Walter’s mobile phone at Midway International Airport in Chicago on Sept. 18, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Ms. Pagett is at the door with the officers, and after Mom reads the search warrant, she walks into the den and calls Dad and then our lawyer, Charles Clarke.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

• summons