English Reference
adjective

warranted

adj.
US /ˈwɔɹəntɪd/ UK /wˈɒɹəntɪd/ war·rant·ed

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    having a good enough reason to be done or felt.

    justified or necessitated by the circumstances; having adequate grounds for existence or occurrence.

    Simple

    The teacher felt that a phone call to the parents was warranted after the student missed three classes.

    In context

    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.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often encounter the negative form 'unwarranted' (e.g., 'unwarranted criticism') even more frequently than the positive form.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    officially allowed or ordered by a legal document called a warrant.

    authorized or sanctioned by a legal warrant or official mandate.

    Simple

    The police conducted a warranted search of the property to look for evidence.

    In context

    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.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly specific to legal procedures; in everyday conversation, sense 1 is much more common.

McIntosh said the findings warranted close attention and reinforced the need to prioritize therapeutic support in investments designed to help families move toward safety.

Phys.org· 25 Aug 2026

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.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated