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 of errant

• mischievous
• naughty
• bad

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

The new incident comes after earlier concerns about Waymo operations in Austin — and an earlier viral video of one of its errant robotaxis. —Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026

Unlike Israel, Palestinian cities have no warning sirens or bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris or errant missiles. —Claudia Ciobanu, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026

Unlike Israel, Palestinian cities have no warning sirens or bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris or errant missiles. —Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

After Pritchard stole an errant Suns pass, White zipped one inside to Queta for an emphatic dunk. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English erraunt "wandering, itinerant, notorious, reprobate," borrowed from Anglo-French errant, present participle of errer "to journey, travel, behave, act, fare" (continental Old French also edrer, esrer) going back to early Medieval Latin iterāre, re-formation (after the base noun iter) of Late Latin itinerārī "to travel"; in sense 1 influenced by Middle French & French errant, present participle of errer "to go off course, be deceived or mistaken," going back to Latin errāre — more at itinerant. err

Note: See also arrant and supplemental note to etymology.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing errant

• knight-errant

Rhymes for errant

• parent
• aberrant
• apparent
• declarant
• grandparent
• stepparent
• transparent
• semitransparent

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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