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warrant

warrant

702 4.6
An official paper that gives permission to do something, for example a court order
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːrənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : orden judicial
  • I have a warrant for her arrest.
  • a search warrant
  • issue a warrant
  • obtain a warrant

We ruled four to three that a warrant was required.

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Examples

  • In order for law enforcement to obtain a search warrant, it must have probable cause.

    Academic text (2017)
  • OK, so the FBI, they need a court order, a warrant to get that information.

  • The names on the warrant did not match the people who lived in the house.

  • We have a search warrant to search the house.

  • -We have a warrant for your arrest.

  • All right, listen, I need a search warrant at the Marlton property.

  • 39. An inspector, therefore, must obtain a warrant to conduct an administrative inspection.

    Academic text (1990)
  • A Swiss journalist narrowly escaped while a warrant for his arrest was being issued.

    Academic text (1991)
  • "Kay, Black Mountain's got a search warrant for Creed Lindsey's house and truck."

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The police obtained a warrant to enter the building and conduct a search.

Synonyms

order
vswarrant
3.0

An instruction from someone in power that must be followed

is used to permit or approve actions not to command behaviour
permit
vswarrant
262 2.1

An official paper that lets someone do something

is framed as a formal authorization rather than routine permission
clearance
vswarrant
  • Formal
223 4.4

Official permission to enter a place or take an action

is a formal authorization used in many contexts not only restricted access
mandate
vswarrant
  • Formal
160 5.3

An official paper that tells a person or group to do something

is framed as granting permission rather than issuing an instruction
court order
vswarrant
  • Formal
108 3.5

An official instruction from a court telling someone to do or stop doing something

is framed as permission or authorization not as a binding court command
decree
vswarrant
  • Formal
80 5.7

An official written order from a court or government that must be followed

is a formal authorization granting permission rather than a binding order
authorization
vswarrant
  • Formal
36 4.1

A written document that gives official permission or instruction

focuses specifically on formal permission to perform an action
sanction
vswarrant
  • Formal
27 5.7

Official permission from an authority to do something

is the formal authorization document that grants approval rather than the approval act
official document
vswarrant
  • Formal
5 3.3

A record issued by an authority that shows a legal agreement or gives a right

is the specific formal authorization giving permission rather than any general paper
judicial writ
vswarrant
  • Formal
1 8.2

A document from a court that orders someone to do or stop something

is instead a formal authorization giving permission rather than ordering acts

Antonyms

61 2.8

Refusing a request or saying something is not true

prohibition
  • Formal
48 4.4

An official rule that stops people from doing something

Compounds

158 3.6

An official paper that lets police search a place for evidence or people

42 3.8

A paper from a judge that lets police take a person to a station and bring them to court

death warrant
  • Formal
17 8.0

An official paper ordering the execution of a person sentenced to death

bench warrant
  • Formal
4 8.1

An order from a judge that allows police to arrest someone and bring them to court

A military person who has rank from a written order and is above soldiers but below officers

8.3

An official paper telling a company to pay a shareholder a dividend

perpetual warrant
  • Specialized
8.9

A right to buy company shares at a fixed price with no end date

stock warrant
  • Specialized
7.6

A paper that lets you buy a company's shares at a fixed price before a date

8.5

A right to buy shares of a company at a fixed price often sold with bonds

subscription warrant
  • Specialized
9.6

A document that lets the person who has it buy company shares at a set price before a date

How Official

court order
  • Formal
108 3.5
warrant
  • Formal
702 4.6
permit
262 2.1
slip
100 1.6

Surface Forms

warrant singular
warrants plural

Etymology

Warrant comes from an old French word meaning 'protector' and is related to the English word ward 'guard'. So a warrant is an official paper that gives permission or authority.