search warrant

noun

: a warrant authorizing a search (as of a house) for stolen goods or unlawful possessions

Examples of search warrant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Authorities executing a search warrant allegedly found a cattle prod, hundreds of bullets, high-capacity magazines, handcuffs and fake cash. Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025 In one instance, federal prosecutors wrote that Velasquez-Hurtado attempted to prevent law enforcement from executing a search warrant in the winter by biting the officers. Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Officers executed a search warrant at the home and recovered a box of ammunition matching casings and a round found at the killing. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2025 Investigators executed a search warrant on the Apple iCloud account associated with the phone, which resulted in a video from April 5, 2024, showing two unidentified men in a parking lot under streetlights, near portable restrooms and a soccer net. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for search warrant

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of search warrant was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Search warrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/search%20warrant. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

search warrant

noun
: a warrant making legal a search of a specified place (as a house) for stolen goods or unlawful possessions (as illegal drugs)

Legal Definition

search warrant

see warrant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!