English Dictionary

Definition of “warrant

warrant (ˈwɒrəntPronunciation for warrant

Definitions

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

verb (tr)

  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

Alternative Forms

ˈwarrantable adjective ˌwarrantaˈbility noun ˈwarrantably adverb ˈwarranter noun ˈwarrantless adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Anglo-French warrant,  variant of Old French guarant,  from guarantir to guarantee, of Germanic origin; compare guaranty

Usage examples

  • One of your guys was out here this morning without a warrant -'That's why we're here, Delia.
    Jon Cleary, YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
  • Court officials said they expected him to surrender himself today (January 17) after the warrant was issued yesterday.
    NME (New Musical Express) (2003)
  • The Vancouver company said the issue consists of about 683 million stock warrant units at 13 cents each.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • He was hunted down in Venezuela, where he had fled when Jamaica issued an arrest warrant.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Eventually, X-rays saved the day by showing which teeth did warrant removal.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

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