Warrant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈwȯr-ənt/ war·rant

Meaning & Definition of Warrant

Warrant (noun)

  1. sanction, authorization; also, evidence for or token of authorization
  2. guarantee, security
  3. ground, justification

Warrant (verb)

  1. to declare or maintain with certainty, be sure that
  2. to assure (a person) of the truth of what is said
  3. to guarantee to a person good title to and undisturbed possession of (something, such as an estate)

Warrant (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something

    "some employees suspected that the supervisor had no warrant from the CEO for instituting the draconian work rules"

    similar: allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license, permission, sanction, sufferance
    related: imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp, accreditation, certification, liberty, pass, concession, patent, permit, tolerance, toleration, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK, accord, grant
    opposite: interdiction, prohibition, proscription
    near: denial, refusal, rejection, revocation, taboo, injunction, veto, deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression, ban, embargo, exclusion

Warrant (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to assume responsibility for the satisfactory quality or performance of

    "the computer company unconditionally warrants all of its products for one full year"

    similar: guarantee, guaranty
    related: attest, authenticate, avouch, certify, testify (to), vouch (for), witness, assure, bond, contract, covenant, pledge, plight, stipulate, swear, undertake, vow, adhere, assert, aver, avow, declare, insist, insure

  2. to give official acceptance of as satisfactory

    "the state constitution warrants these measures"

    similar: accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK, ratify, sanction
    related: accept, acknowledge, affirm, certify, endorse, validate, bless, canonize, sanctify, initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on), allow, enable, legalize, license, pass, permit, reapprove
    opposite: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto
    near: ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

  3. to have as a requirement

    "the situation warrants your immediate attention"

    similar: bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, need, require, take, want, call for
    related: entail, involve, ask, beg, clamor (for), cry (for), hurt (for), lack, command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulate
    opposite: have, hold
    near: own, possess

  4. to state as a fact usually forcefully

    "we'll all be dead before that happens, I warrant"

    similar: affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, put forth
    related: announce, broadcast, proclaim, argue, rationalize, reason, confirm, justify, vindicate, defend, persevere, support, uphold, reaffirm, reassert
    opposite: deny, gainsay
    near: abandon, disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate, challenge, dispute, question, confute, disprove, rebut, refute, contradict, counter

  5. to give official or legal power to

    "bailiffs are warranted to enforce the subpoena"

    similar: accredit, authorize, certify, charter (British), commission, empower, enable, invest, license, qualify, vest
    related: approve, clear, credential, endorse, OK, sanction, affirm, confirm, validate, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in, allow, let, permit, enfranchise, entitle, privilege
    opposite: disqualify
    near: ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Warrant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Warrant:

British: charter
allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license, permission, sanction, sufferance, guarantee, guaranty, accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK, ratify, bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, need, require, take, want, affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Warrant

Words with the opposite meaning of Warrant:

interdiction, prohibition, proscription, decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto, have, hold, gainsay, disqualify

Related Words for Warrant

imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp, accreditation, certification, liberty, pass, concession, patent, permit, tolerance, toleration, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, accord, grant, attest, authenticate, testify (to), vouch (for), witness, assure, bond, contract, covenant, pledge, plight

Near Antonyms of Warrant

denial, refusal, rejection, revocation, taboo, injunction, deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression, ban, embargo, exclusion, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn, own, possess, abandon

Word Forms of Warrant

Inflections: warranted, warranting, warrants

Derived words: warrantless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Warrant

Middle English waraunt protector, warrant, from Anglo-French warant, garant, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werēnto guarantor, werēn to warrant; akin to Old High German wāra trust, care very:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Warrant

Words & Phrases Containing Warrant

warrant officer, bench warrant, chief warrant officer, death warrant, search warrant, sign one's own death warrant

Frequently Asked Questions about Warrant

What does "Warrant" mean?

"Warrant" means sanction, authorization; also, evidence for or token of authorization. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: sanction, authorization; also, evidence for or token of authorization. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Warrant"?

Other words for "Warrant" include allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light and leave. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Warrant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Warrant"?

There are 145 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Warrant". Common alternatives include allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license and permission.

What is the opposite of "Warrant"?

Antonyms of "Warrant" include interdiction, prohibition, proscription, decline, deny, disallow, disapprove and negative. Near antonyms include denial, refusal, rejection and revocation.

How do you use "Warrant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Warrant" in a sentence: "some employees suspected that the supervisor had no warrant from the CEO for instituting the draconian work rules"; "the computer company unconditionally warrants all of its products for one full year"; "the state constitution warrants these measures".

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

"Warrant" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Warrant" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Warrant" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Warrant"?

"Warrant" is pronounced /ˈwȯr-ənt/ and divided into syllables as war·rant.