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Errant has a split history. It comes from Anglo-French, a language in which two confusingly similar verbs with identical spellings ("errer") coexisted. One errer meant "to err" and comes from the Latin errare, meaning "to wander" or "to err." The second errer meant "to travel," and traces to the Latin iter, meaning "road" or "journey." Both "errer" homographs contributed to the development of "errant," which not surprisingly has to do with both moving about and being mistaken. A "knight-errant" travels around in search of adventures. Cowboys round up "errant calves." An "errant child" is one who misbehaves. (You might also see "arrant" occasionally - it's a word that originated as an alteration of "errant" and that usually means "extreme" or "shameless.")
Examples of errant in a Sentence
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
An errant shot by Cody Rhodes sent the referee to the ground as WWE officials ran in to stop the brawl before the match started.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
According to Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States, more people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Since last fall, an errant comment Alexander Skarsgård made has fueled wild speculation about his sexuality — and, speaking to Variety in a new cover story, the actor is clearing it up.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for errant
Cite this Entry
“Errant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errant. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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errant
adjective
