writ

noun

ˈrit 

1

: something written : writing

Sacred Writ

2

a

: a formal written document

specifically : a legal instrument in epistolary form issued under seal in the name of the English monarch

b

: an order or mandatory process in writing issued in the name of the sovereign or of a court or judicial officer commanding the person to whom it is directed to perform or refrain from performing an act specified therein

writ of detinue

writ of entry

writ of execution

c

: the power and authority of the issuer of such a written order

—usually used with run

outside the United States where … our writ does not run

—Dean Acheson

Examples of writ in a Sentence

The judge issued a writ of habeas corpus.

He was served with a writ.

Recent Examples on the Web

On generic survey questions that asked respondents which candidate would better handle foreign policy writ large, Trump regularly prevailed by a margin of at least five percentage points. —Jeffrey A. Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2024

Business leaders who want to succeed need to be clear on impact writ large. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024

Two countries have quit the court altogether, shaking belief in the inevitable, gradual expansion of The Hague’s writ. —Eugene Kontorovich, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024

What does all this mean really for the housing market writ large? —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English wrītan to write

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing writ

• holy writ
• writ large
• writ of assistance
• writ of certiorari
• writ of error
• writ of extent
• writ of habeas corpus
• writ of mandamus
• writ of prohibition
• writ of right
• writ of summons
• writ small

Kids Definition

writ

noun

ˈrit 

1

: something written : writing

Holy Writ

2

: a written legal order signed by a court officer

Legal Definition

writ

noun

ˈrit 

1

: a letter that was issued in the name of the English monarch from Anglo-Saxon times to declare his grants, wishes, and commands

2

: an order or mandatory process in writing issued in the name of the sovereign or of a court or judicial officer commanding the person to whom it is directed to perform or refrain from performing a specified act

Note: The writ was a vital official instrument in the old common law of England. A plaintiff commenced a suit at law by choosing the proper form of action and obtaining a writ appropriate to the remedy sought; its issuance forced the defendant to comply or to appear in court and defend. Writs were also in constant use for financial and political purposes of government. While the writ no longer governs civil pleading and has lost many of its applications, the extraordinary writs especially of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, and certiorari indicate its historical importance as an instrument of judicial authority.

— alias writ

: a writ issued upon the failure of a previous one

— alternative writ

: a writ commanding one to perform a mandated act or else to show cause why the act need not be performed compare peremptory writ in this entry

— extraordinary writ

: a writ granted as an extraordinary remedy at the discretion of the court in its jurisdiction over officials or inferior tribunals

called also prerogative writ

see also certiorari, habeas corpus, mandamus, procedendo, prohibition, quo warranto compare writ of right in this entry

Note: Extraordinary writs were originally writs exercised by royal prerogative.

— judicial writ

: a writ issued by a court under its own seal for judicial purposes in the course of a proceeding or to enforce a judgment compare original writ in this entry

— original writ

: a writ formerly used in England that issued out of chancery as the means of bringing a suit and defendant before the court compare judicial writ in this entry

Note: The original writ was superseded by the summons in 1873.

— peremptory writ

: a writ (as of mandamus) that presents an absolute order without the alternative to show cause

a peremptory writ of prohibition

compare alternative writ in this entry

— prerogative writ \ pri-​ˈrä-​gə-​tiv-​ \

: extraordinary writ in this entry

— writ of assistance

: a writ issued to a law officer (as a sheriff or marshal) for the enforcement of a court order or decree

especially : one used to enforce an order for the possession of lands

: a writ provided for under British rule in colonial America that authorized customs officers to search unspecified places for any smuggled goods

Note: Many colonial courts refused to issue writs of assistance, which were a focus of bitter resentment against arbitrary searches and seizures. Opposition to such writs inspired the provision in the U.S. Constitution requiring that a search warrant describe with particularity the place and items to be searched.

— writ of coram nobis

: writ of error coram nobis in this entry

— writ of error

: a common-law writ directing an inferior court to remit the record of an action to the reviewing court in order that an error of law may be corrected if it exists

Note: The writ of error has been largely abolished and superseded by the appeal.

— writ of error coram nobis

: a writ calling the attention of the trial court to facts which do not appear on the record despite the exercise of reasonable diligence by the defendant and which if known and established at the time a judgment was rendered would have resulted in a different judgment

petitioned for a writ of error coram nobis on the ground that newly discovered evidence exonerated him

called also coram nobis, writ of coram nobis

— writ of right

: a common-law writ formerly used to restore property held by another to its rightful owner

: a writ granted as a matter of right compare extraordinary writ in this entry

Etymology

Old English, something written