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.

---

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

---

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

After serving the search warrant on the phone provider, Rodriguez obtained GPS location pings associated with T.F.’s cellphone that showed he was in Utah.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

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

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

A search warrant was also served at the couple’s home and storage units in San Clemente, according to the statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

"I said, come back with a search warrant, you want to see what I keep under my bed, but I let 'em have a good look from the door, satisfy 'em you weren't there."

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick

Related Words

• summons