noun · formal

warrant

UK/ˈwɒrənt/US/ˈwɔːrənt/WAR·rant

Band 7+task2speaking

an official document issued by a court or judge authorizing the police to carry out a search, arrest, or other action

Examples

The police obtained a search warrant before entering the house.

The officer presented an arrest warrant to the suspect.

Warrantless searches are subject to strict legal limits.

Band 8 sentence

Officers must secure a warrant from a judge before conducting a non-consensual search of a suspect's home.

Collocations

  • search warrant
  • arrest warrant
  • issue/obtain a warrant

Word family

warrantless adjectivewarrant (verb) verb (to justify)

Common mistakes

warrantywarrant

search warrant for the house (use of preposition)search warrant to search the house / search warrant for the house (both seen)

Say it for a higher band

5order6court order7+warrant

Synonyms

court order

Easily confused

warranty

The device came with a one-year warranty.

Related words

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In Crime & Law

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