Definition of 'warrant'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense warrants
, present participle warranting
, past tense, past participle warranted
1. verb
If something warrants a particular action, it makes the action seem necessary or appropriate for the circumstances.
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation. [VERB noun]
No matter was too small to warrant his attention. [VERB noun]
2. countable noun [oft by NOUN]
A warrant is a legal document that allows someone to do something, especially one that is signed by a judge or magistrate and gives the police permission to arrest someone or search their house.
Police confirmed that they had issued a warrant for his arrest. [+ for]
...a search warrant.
Equipment is allocated by warrant.
3. uncountable noun [oft with brd-neg, usu N for n/-ing]
4. verb
If you warrant that something is true or will happen, you say officially that it is true, or guarantee that it will happen.
[formal] All entrants must warrant that their entry is entirely their own work. [VERB that]
The contract warrants that an experienced person is on board all the time. [VERB that]
5. See also death warrant
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'warrant'
noun
2.
a document that certifies or guarantees, such as a receipt for goods stored in a warehouse, a licence, or a commission
3. law
4.
(in certain armed services) the official authority for the appointment of warrant officers
verb (transitive)
6.
to guarantee the quality, condition, etc, of (something)
7.
to give authority or power to
9.
to guarantee (a purchaser of merchandise) against loss of, damage to, or misrepresentation concerning the merchandise
11.
to declare boldly and confidently
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
adjective
warrantability (ˌwarrantaˈbility) or warrantableness (ˈwarrantableness)
noun
warrantably (ˈwarrantably)
adverb
warranter (ˈwarranter)
noun
warrantless (ˈwarrantless)
adjective
Word origin of 'warrant'
noun
2.
something that serves as an assurance, or guarantee, of some event or result
3.
a writing serving as authorization or certification for something
; specif.,a.
authorization in writing for the payment or receipt of money
b.
a short-term note issued by a municipality or other governmental agency, usually in anticipation of tax revenues
c.
d. Law
a writ or order authorizing an officer to make an arrest, seizure, or search, or perform some other designated act
verb transitive
4.
a.
to give (someone) authorization or sanction to do something
b.
to authorize (the doing of something)
5.
to serve as justification or reasonable grounds for (an act, belief, etc.)
a remark that did not warrant such anger
6.
to give formal assurance, or guarantee, to (someone) or for (something)
; specif.,a.
to guarantee the quality, quantity, condition, etc. of (goods) to the purchaser
b.
to guarantee to (the purchaser) that goods sold are as represented
c.
to guarantee to (the purchaser) the title of goods purchased; assure of indemnification against loss
SIMILAR WORDS: asˈsert
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
adjective
Word origin of 'warrant'
Example sentences containing 'warrant'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
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Officers were accused of misleading a judge to gain search warrants. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The police issued arrest warrants for five others. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The police have now withdrawn an arrest warrant. The Sun (2016)She confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued and that the suspect had been detained. Times, Sunday Times (2016)JPs grant search warrant next day. The Sun (2016)She added:'This is the context they are coming into and it warrants further investigation. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But by the time British police got a European arrest warrant he had vanished again. The Sun (2016)In the detectives' determination to pursue what they clearly but wrongly thought were guilty men, they misled a judge to obtain search warrants. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Was his death warranted now when he must go and fight her people? THE WOLF AND THE DOVEWhen he applied to his superiors for a search warrant his request was turned down. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Surely there must be some price at which it pays to buy warrants. Principles of Corporate Finance (1991) Police have issued warrants against owners of the deserted cars. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The warrant gives its owner the right to buy other company securities. Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)Two resources were invaluable to me in youth work and may warrant your special attention. Christianity Today (2000)Since then it has netted no fewer than ten royal warrants. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The gang had claimed they were military officials with arrest warrants for city police. The Sun (2012)We reviewed it and felt it warranted further investigation. Times, Sunday Times (2006)The former does not warrant further sanction. Times, Sunday Times (2013)You will then be able to determine whether the situation warrants any further action. Times, Sunday Times (2006)They spent three nights in custody after being detained on international arrest warrants. Times, Sunday Times (2014)One she will feel is entirely warranted. The Sun (2016)But the rating agencies do change their minds when conditions warrant it. Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)To deny them an escape now is to sign their death warrant. Times, Sunday Times (2007)But did his views warrant the prominence given in column space? Times, Sunday Times (2010)There was judicial involvement in the procedure for obtaining a warrant and the application had to be made by a senior officer. Times, Sunday Times (2015)This is an abuse of process using the European arrest warrant for political rather than judicial reasons. Times, Sunday Times (2015)If the shareholder inevitably wins, the warrant holder must inevitably lose. Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)So rather than buying a warrant, you might prefer to pick and choose your own stocks. Times, Sunday Times (2006)A file could be read without a legal warrant. Times, Sunday Times (2011)If breached, councils or the police would have to apply for a warrant to arrest instead of automatically having the power of arrest. Times, Sunday Times (2013)
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Trends of 'warrant'
In Common Usage. warrant is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
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Translations for 'warrant'
British English: warrant VERB
If something warrants a particular action, it makes the action seem necessary or appropriate for the circumstances.
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation.
- American English: warrant
- Brazilian Portuguese: justificar
- Chinese: 使…显得必要
- European Spanish: merecer
- French: justifier
- German: rechtfertigen
- Italian: giustificare
- Japanese: 正当化する
- Korean: 정당화하다
- European Portuguese: justificar
- Spanish: merecer
British English: warrant NOUN
A warrant is a legal document that allows someone to do something, especially one that is signed by a judge or magistrate and gives the police permission to arrest someone or search their house.
Police confirmed that they had issued a warrant for his arrest.
- American English: warrant
- Brazilian Portuguese: garantia
- Chinese: 使…显得必要
- European Spanish: orden de detención/registro
- French: mandat
- German: Haftbefehl
- Italian: mandato
- Japanese: 令状
- Korean: 영장
- European Portuguese: garantia
- Spanish: orden de detención/registro
Nearby words of 'warrant'
Related Terms of 'warrant'
Source
Definition of warrant from the
Collins English Dictionary
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