errant

The definition of errant is straying from the normal course or not following guidelines or standards.

(adjective)

An example of errant used as an adjective is the phrase "errant traveler," which means a traveler who doesn't follow maps or guidebooks and who just goes where the road takes him.
An example of errant used as an adjective is the phrase "errant students," which means students who never hand in their homework.

See errant in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

roving or wandering, esp. in search of adventure; itinerant: a knight-errant
1. Origin: OFr, prp. of errer (see err), confused with errer, to rove, travel
  erring or straying from what is right or the right course
2. shifting about: an errant wind
Obsolete arrant

Origin: ME erraunt < OFr errant, prp. of errer < ML iterare, to travel < L iter, a journey: see itinerant

Related Forms:

See errant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Roving, especially in search of adventure: knights errant.
Straying from the proper course or standards: errant youngsters.
a. Wandering outside the established limits: errant lambs.
b. Aimless or irregular in motion: an errant afternoon breeze.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English erraunt

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman

Origin: , partly from Old French errer, to travel about (from Vulgar Latin *iterāre, from Latin iter, journey; see ei- in Indo-European roots)

Origin: and partly from Old French errer, to err; see err

Related Forms: