search-warrant
Definition
- Noun:
- A legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to search a specific location (such as a home, vehicle, or business) for evidence of a crime.
Usage Examples
- (They secured legal permission to search the premises.)
- (The absence of legal authorization made the search unlawful.)
- (The document was approved based on sufficient reason to believe a crime occurred.)
Advanced Usage
"to execute a search-warrant": to carry out the authorized search as specified in the document.
- Officers executed the search-warrant at dawn, seizing several illegal items. (They performed the legally permitted search.)
"to contest a search-warrant": to challenge the legality or validity of the warrant in court.
- The defense attorney argued that the search-warrant was based on false information. (The lawyer questioned the warrant's legitimacy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Search (n): an act of looking for something, especially evidence.
- The search of the house lasted three hours. (The physical examination of the property.)
- Warrant (n): a legal document authorizing a specific action, such as an arrest or search.
- The arrest warrant was issued after the suspect fled. (A document allowing police to take someone into custody.)
Synonyms
- Search warrant: (the same term, sometimes written as two words without a hyphen) a legal order for a search.
- Writ of search: a formal legal order authorizing a search (less common, more technical).
- Search order: a court order permitting a search (used in some legal contexts).
Related Idioms
- "to have a search-warrant": to possess the legal right to search.
- The detectives had a search-warrant, so they could legally enter the garage. (They had the required authorization.)
- "to get a search-warrant": to obtain legal permission for a search.
- The prosecutor needed to get a search-warrant before the evidence could be collected. (The legal process was required.)