warrant
to justify or make reasonable
To be a good enough reason for something to happen or be done.
[something] warrants [something]
- His behavior was rude, but it hardly warrants losing his job.
- The evidence does not warrant a full criminal investigation.
- These results warrant further study before any conclusions are drawn.
- Nothing in the email warrants such an angry response.
- The injury was serious enough to warrant immediate surgery.
- The problem is small and does not warrant a big meeting.
- Her good work warrants a pay rise.
- This movie is not good enough to warrant a second watch.
- The rain was heavy enough to warrant canceling the game.
- One bad test does not warrant failing the whole course.
official paper allowing police action
An official paper from a court that allows the police to arrest someone or search a place.
a warrant for [someone]'s arrest
- Police executed a search warrant at the suspect's home.
- A warrant was issued for her arrest after she failed to appear in court.
- Officers need a warrant before they can enter your house.
- The judge refused to sign the warrant because there was not enough evidence.
- He turned himself in as soon as he heard there was a warrant out for his arrest.
- The police came with a search warrant.
- The judge signed a warrant for his arrest.
- They cannot open your door without a warrant.
- She was afraid because there was a warrant for her arrest.
- The police showed us the warrant before they came inside.
sufficient reason or justification
A strong enough reason that makes an action or belief acceptable.
[something] is (no) warrant for [something]
- There is no warrant for such sweeping claims.
- These rumors have little warrant and should not be repeated as facts.
- His past mistakes are not sufficient warrant for mistrusting him now.
- The data provide some warrant for cautious optimism.
- Anger alone is not a warrant for violence.
- There is no warrant for your fear.
- His words gave us no warrant to believe the story.
- One late payment is not a warrant for ending the contract.
- The teacher said there was little warrant for changing the rules.
- The report gives strong warrant for new safety plans.
to guarantee or promise formally
To say in a serious or official way that something is true, or that something will be good, and accept responsibility if it is not.
[someone] warrants that [clause]
- We cannot warrant the accuracy of information on external websites.
- The seller warrants that the goods are free from defects.
- I can’t warrant that the meeting will finish on time.
- The company expressly warrants the safety of this product.
- He would not warrant the success of the venture.
- The company warrants that the car is safe.
- The contract says the builder warrants the work for two years.
- I cannot warrant that every answer is correct.
- They do not warrant good results if you do not follow the instructions.
- The seller warrants that the phone is new.
security giving right to buy shares
A special paper or electronic right that lets a person buy company shares at a set price before a certain date.
[someone] exercises a warrant
- The company plans to issue new warrants to raise capital.
- Investors can exercise the warrants at any time before 2028.
- Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one ordinary share at €5.
- The value of the warrants fell sharply after the earnings report.
- He specializes in trading equity warrants on Asian markets.
- She bought warrants instead of shares.
- This warrant lets you buy the stock at a low price.
- The bank issued new warrants last year.
- He made money by selling his warrants.
- You can exercise the warrant before it ends.
- Base: warrant
- Plural: warrant, warrants
- Base: warrant
- 3rd Person Singular: warrants
- Present Participle: warranting
- Past: warranted
arrest warrant
1court paper allowing an arrest
An official paper from a court that allows the police to catch and hold a person.
- An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court.
- The officer showed her the arrest warrant before taking her into custody.
search warrant
1court paper allowing a search
An official paper from a court that allows the police to search a house, car, or other place.
- The police obtained a search warrant before entering the apartment.
- Without a search warrant, they were not allowed to open the locked garage.
sign your own death warrant
1do something that destroys you
To do something that will clearly cause very bad results for you in the future.
- By insulting his boss in public, he signed his own death warrant at the company.
- Cutting funding for the project now would be signing our own death warrant.
without warrant
1with no legal or good reason
Done with no legal paper or no good reason to support it.
- The search was carried out without warrant and was later ruled illegal.
- Such harsh criticism seems entirely without warrant.
bench warrant
1warrant for failing to appear
A special kind of arrest warrant that a judge gives when a person does not come to court when they should.
- The judge issued a bench warrant when the witness did not show up.
- He was arrested on a bench warrant from another state.
bench warrant
2arrest order for missed court
An official paper from a judge that tells the police to arrest someone who did not go to court when they had to.
- The judge issued a bench warrant after the witness failed to appear.
- Police arrested him on a bench warrant from another state.
- A bench warrant is often issued when someone skips a court date.