Errant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈer-ənt/ er·rant

Meaning & Definition of Errant

Errant (adjective)

  1. behaving wrongly
  2. straying outside the proper path or bounds
  3. moving about aimlessly or irregularly

Errant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior

    "blamed the prank on errant students"

    similar: bad, contrary, froward, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty
    related: defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impolite, improper, impudent, indecorous, insolent, rude, uncouth, unmannerly, disobedient, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory, transgressing, unruly, untoward, willful, balky, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, wayward, wild, arch, elfish, impish, knavish, monkeying, monkeyish, ornery, pixieish, prankish, rascally, roguish, waggish, dissolute, perverse, wrongheaded, disorderly, rowdy, ruffianly, corrupt, evil, wicked, insurgent, mutinous, rebellious, disobliging, inconsiderate, selfish, thoughtless, unkind, unkindly, babyish, childish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile
    opposite: behaved, behaving, nice, orderly
    near: acquiescent, compliant, complying, dutiful, obedient, submissive, clean, correct, decent, decorous, moral, proper, respectable, considerate, courteous, kindly, mannerly, polite, thoughtful, angelic, cherubic, divine, heavenly, amenable, docile, governable, tractable, amiable, complaisant, good-natured, obliging, pleasant, discreet, modest, adult, grown-up, mature

  2. traveling from place to place

    "the errant gunslinger as a standard character in western novels"

    similar: ambulant, ambulatory, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad, nomadic, perambulatory, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, vagabond, vagrant, wandering, wayfaring, on the move
    related: drifting, footloose, meandering, rambling, sauntering, strolling, traipsing, walking, migrant, migratory
    near: immobile, nonmoving, settled, standing, static, stationary, motionless, still

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Errant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Errant:

bad, contrary, froward, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ambulant, ambulatory, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad, nomadic, perambulatory, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, vagabond, vagrant, wandering, wayfaring, on the move

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Errant

Words with the opposite meaning of Errant:

behaved, behaving, nice, orderly

Related Words for Errant

defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impolite, improper, impudent, indecorous, insolent, rude, uncouth, unmannerly, disobedient, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory, transgressing, unruly, untoward, willful, balky, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, wayward, wild, arch, elfish

Near Antonyms of Errant

acquiescent, compliant, complying, dutiful, obedient, submissive, clean, correct, decent, decorous, moral, proper, respectable, considerate, courteous, kindly, mannerly, polite, thoughtful, angelic, cherubic, divine, heavenly, amenable, docile, governable, tractable, amiable, complaisant, good-natured

Word Forms of Errant

Derived words: errant (noun), errantly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Errant

Middle English erraunt "wandering, itinerant, notorious, reprobate," borrowed from Anglo-French errant, present participle of errer "to journey, travel, behave, act, fare" (continental Old French also edrer, esrer) going back to early Medieval Latin iterāre, re-formation (after the base noun iter) of Late Latin itinerārī "to travel"; in sense 1 influenced by Middle French & French errant, present participle of errer "to go off course, be deceived or mistaken," going back to Latin errāre itinerant. err

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Errant

knight-errant

Frequently Asked Questions about Errant

What does "Errant" mean?

"Errant" means behaving wrongly. As an adjective, it is defined as: behaving wrongly. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Errant"?

Other words for "Errant" include bad, contrary, froward, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ambulant and ambulatory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Errant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Errant"?

There are 100 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Errant". Common alternatives include bad, contrary, froward, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ambulant, ambulatory, fugitive and gallivanting.

What is the opposite of "Errant"?

Antonyms of "Errant" include behaved, behaving, nice and orderly. Near antonyms include acquiescent, compliant, complying and dutiful.

How do you use "Errant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Errant" in a sentence: "blamed the prank on errant students"; "the errant gunslinger as a standard character in western novels".

Is "Errant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Errant" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Errant"?

"Errant" is pronounced /ˈer-ənt/ and divided into syllables as er·rant.

What is the origin of the word "Errant"?

"Errant" comes from Middle English erraunt "wandering, itinerant, notorious, reprobate," borrowed from Anglo-French errant, present participle of errer "to journey, travel, behave, act, fare" (continental Old French also edrer, esrer) going back to early Medieval Latin iterāre, re-formation (after the base noun iter) of Late Latin itinerārī "to travel"; in sense 1 influenced by Middle French & French errant, present participle of errer "to go off course, be deceived or mistaken," going back to Latin errāre itinerant. err. First known use: 14th century.