errant

IPA/ˈerənt/
KK[ˈɛrənt]IPA/ˈerənt/

errant — adjective

  • errantpositive
  • more errantcomparative
  • most errantsuperlative

1. describes a person who has done something wrong or unacceptable, particularly by

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a person who has done something wrong or unacceptable, particularly by running away from family responsibilities or breaking moral rules

Example

The villagers were shocked by the errant son who stole money from his own mother.

errant son — describes a family member who has done wrong

After years of trouble, the errant monk returned to the monastery to ask for forgiveness.

Common collocations
  • errant son
  • errant husband
  • errant knight
  • errant monk
  • errant student
Synonyms
  • wayward

    stronger focus on stubborn disobedience, often of a child or dependent

  • misbehaving

    less formal; describes someone breaking rules without the literary tone of 'errant'

  • delinquent

    more legalistic; often used for young people who commit crimes

Antonyms
  • obedient

    doing what you are told to do

  • dutiful

    conscientiously fulfilling your responsibilities

Grammar Patterns

errant + noun (usually before a noun)

Usage Note

Usually placed before the noun (attributive position). You would not say 'the son was errant' in natural English — instead say 'the errant son'.

Common Mistakes

My dog is errant and always runs away.
My dog is a runaway and always runs away.
'errant' is very formal and rarely used in everyday speech about pets.

2. describes something that moves or goes in a way that is not planned or controlle

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes something that moves or goes in a way that is not planned or controlled, often causing an unwanted result

Example

An errant snowball hit the back of an elderly woman's head during the schoolyard fight.

errant snowball — an object that goes off course

During the storm, an errant branch crashed through the window of the kitchen.

Common collocations
  • errant ball
  • errant golf shot
  • errant branch
  • errant vehicle
  • errant taxi
  • errant missile
Synonyms
  • stray

    less formal; common for animals or objects that have wandered off course

  • wayward

    suggests stubborn or unpredictable movement; overlaps with sense 1

  • rogue

    stronger; implies something is dangerously out of control

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

errant + noun (usually before a noun)

Usage Note

Common in newspaper writing for accidents involving a stray object (ball, vehicle, branch). Not used for people in this sense.

Common Mistakes

The dog ran in an errant direction.
An errant dog ran into the street.
'errant' must come before the noun it modifies in this sense.

3. describes a person who moves between different locations without settling down,

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a person who moves between different locations without settling down, often looking for adventure or fresh experiences

Example

For three years Andrei lived as an errant scholar, visiting libraries across Eastern Europe.

errant scholar — someone who travels in pursuit of knowledge

The novel follows an errant knight who roams the countryside righting wrongs.

Common collocations
  • errant knight
  • errant scholar
  • errant musician
  • errant poet
  • errant sailor
Synonyms
  • wandering

    neutral and common; lacks the literary, slightly archaic tone of 'errant'

  • itinerant

    formal; often used for workers who travel (itinerant labourer, itinerant preacher)

  • roving

    implies movement without a fixed goal; common in 'roving reporter'

Antonyms
  • settled

    living in one place with no plans to move

  • sedentary

    staying in one place; not traveling

Grammar Patterns

errant + noun (usually before a noun)

Usage Note

Chiefly used in literary or historical contexts. Modern English prefers 'wandering', 'itinerant', or 'roaming' for non-fictional travel.

Common Mistakes

My aunt is an errant traveller who visits different countries.
My aunt is an avid traveller who visits different countries.
'errant' sounds outdated for describing modern tourism.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Errant', 'wayward', 'misbehaving', and 'delinquent' all describe someone who breaks rules or moral standards, but with different strengths and contexts. 'Errant' is the most formal and literary — it often appears in storytelling ('an errant knight') or dramatic newspaper reports. 'Wayward' carries a stronger sense of stubbornness and is frequently used for children or teenagers who reject guidance ('a wayward teenager'). 'Misbehaving' is the everyday word, appropriate for any age group in casual or school settings ('a misbehaving puppy' is fine, but 'an errant puppy' would sound odd). 'Delinquent' has a legal flavour and is reserved for young people who commit crimes ('juvenile delinquent'). If you are describing a spouse who has been unfaithful, 'errant husband' works in a formal tone, while 'wayward husband' sounds more emotional and 'delinquent' would be wrong in that context.

wayward ↗misbehaving ↗delinquent ↗errant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • errant child
  • errant parent
  • errant behaviour
  • errant throw
  • errant rocket
  • errant artist
  • errant adventurer

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin verb 'errare', meaning 'to wander' or 'to go astray'. This same root gives us 'error' (a mistake — something that has gone off the correct path) and 'erratic' (unpredictable or irregular movement). In Middle English, 'errant' was used literally for knights who travelled in search of adventure (a 'knight errant'), and over time the word took on the moral meaning of 'straying from what is right'.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2