Warrant

How to spell warrant

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce warrant

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does warrant mean?

1. nounAn official document issued by a court or authority that permits an action such as an arrest, a search, or a payment.
2. verbTo justify or make something seem reasonable; to provide adequate grounds for an action.

Warrant in a sentence

• noun

  The magistrate signed a warrant for the suspect's arrest.

• verb

  The minor scratch did not warrant a full repair bill.

• noun

  Police could not enter the property without a search warrant.

• verb

  These test results warrant a closer look at the data.

Where does warrant come from?

Language of origin: French

This word reached English in the 1200s from Old North French warant, a regional form of the word that elsewhere became Old French guarant, meaning a protector, a defender, or one who gives a guarantee. The ultimate source is a Germanic root tied to the idea of watching over, protecting, or vouching for something, the same family that gives us 'guard' and 'guarantee'. The 'w-' spelling preserves the northern French pronunciation, which is exactly why English ended up with the doubled 'r' and the soft, unstressed second syllable that trips writers up. From the sense of vouching for someone came two strands of meaning: the written authority that backs an action (a document issued by authority) and the verb meaning to justify or guarantee that something is so. Because the second syllable is an unstressed schwa, the '-ant' ending is the chief spelling trap, as it sounds identical to the '-ent' that closes many other words.

How the word is built

• warr- (from Old North French warant: a protector, guarantee)
• -ant (agent/noun ending)