# warrant

/ˈwɔɹənt/ (US) · /wˈɒɹənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/warrant
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to justify

verb · CEFR B2

to make a particular action or reaction necessary or right.

For teachers: to serve as adequate ground or reason for an action or conclusion. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The situation was serious, but it did not warrant such a violent reaction.
- While the initial findings are promising, they do not yet warrant a full-scale clinical trial without further peer-reviewed data.

### 2. to guarantee

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to promise that something is true or of good quality.

For teachers: to guarantee the quality, truth, or validity of something. Often used in commercial or legal guarantees.

- The manufacturer warrants that the engine will last for ten years.
- The seller warrants that the property is free of all liens and encumbrances at the time of the transaction.

### 3. legal document

noun · CEFR B2

an official document signed by a judge that allows the police to do something, like search a house.

For teachers: a judicial writ or order authorizing an officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search.

- The police had a warrant to search the suspect's apartment for evidence.
- The judge refused to sign the search warrant, citing a lack of probable cause in the detective's affidavit.

### 4. financial right

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a document that gives you the right to buy shares in a company at a fixed price.

For teachers: a derivative security that gives the holder the right to purchase securities from the issuer at a specific price within a certain time frame.

- The investors were offered warrants as part of the new funding deal.
- The company issued stock warrants to its early employees, allowing them to purchase shares at a significant discount if the firm went public.

### 5. military rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a rank in the army or navy that is above a sergeant but below a regular officer.

For teachers: shortened form of 'warrant officer'; a rank in many military services held by technical experts.

- He was promoted to warrant officer after ten years of technical service.
- The warrant was responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft's complex radar systems.

## Examples

- The police have a warrant for his arrest.
- The judge issued a search warrant allowing officers to enter the suspect's home.
- Without sufficient probable cause, the magistrate refused to sign the warrant, citing concerns about protecting the individual's rights against unreasonable searches.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.