errant

adjective

er·​rant ˈer-ənt 

ˈe-rənt

1

a

: behaving wrongly

an errant child

b

: straying outside the proper path or bounds

an errant calf

c

: moving about aimlessly or irregularly

an errant breeze

d

: fallible

2

: traveling or given to traveling

an errant knight

errant noun

errantly adverb

Did you know?

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.")

Synonyms

• bad
• contrary
• froward
• misbehaving
• mischievous
• naughty

Examples of errant in a Sentence

The teacher blamed the prank on errant students.

the errant gunslinger as a standard character in western novels

Recent Examples on the Web

In November 2022, two Polish farmers were killed when an errant Ukrainian missile fell in Polish territory. —Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

Once your style is set, a little crème is also good for refreshing those errant curls that frizz up unexpectedly. —Erin Parker, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024

With New York second baseman Jeff McNeil sidelined for the season after an errant pitch fractured his wrist and Francisco Lindor resting a minor back injury Saturday, Acuña is getting his first look at the big-league level. —Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024

Before an errant missile strikes a ship, every Houthi antiship missile launch should be matched with a U.S. action against Iran. —Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English erraunt, from Anglo-French errant, present participle of errer to err & errer to travel, from Late Latin iterare, from Latin iter road, journey — more at itinerant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing errant

• knight-errant

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Kids Definition

errant

adjective

er·​rant ˈer-ənt 

1

a

: moving around from place to place without apparent purpose or goal

b

: wandering in search of adventure

an errant knight

2

a

: straying outside proper bounds

an errant calf

b

: behaving or having behaved badly or wrongfully

errantry

-ən-trē

noun