Word
warranted
Phoneticswar·rant·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔɹəntɪd/
UK/wˈɒɹəntɪd/
Definitions
01justified or necessary
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. having a good enough reason to be done or felt.
adj. justified or necessitated by the circumstances; having adequate grounds for existence or occurrence.
“The teacher felt that a phone call to the parents was warranted after the student missed three classes.”
“Given the volatility of the current market, the board decided that a more cautious approach to investment was entirely warranted.”
Usage
Often used in professional or academic contexts to evaluate the validity of a reaction or decision.
Teaching tip
Learners often encounter the negative form 'unwarranted' (e.g., 'unwarranted criticism') even more frequently than the positive form.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02legally authorized
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical
adj. officially allowed or ordered by a legal document called a warrant.
adj. authorized or sanctioned by a legal warrant or official mandate.
“The police conducted a warranted search of the property to look for evidence.”
“The defense attorney argued that the warranted surveillance had exceeded the scope originally permitted by the judge.”
Usage
Typically used in legal or law enforcement contexts regarding searches, arrests, or seizures.
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specific to legal procedures; in everyday conversation, sense 1 is much more common.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“McIntosh said the findings warranted close attention and reinforced the need to prioritize therapeutic support in investments designed to help families move toward safety.” “The company's chief executive Magda Chambriard said that the discovery confirmed that Petrobras's "optimism" of finding oil in the Brazilian Equatorial Margin had been warranted.” Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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