adjective

errant

AIR-uhnt/ˈerənt/

Wandering away from a fixed or proper course.

The errant sheep strays away from the route followed by the flock.

One sheep strays outside the flock's path while remaining sheep follow a shepherdless track.

Etymology

errantAnglo-Frenchwandering; going astray

Erraunt brought together literal wandering and going astray or making a mistake. The selected meaning carries that image beyond travel: someone departs from proper conduct or an expected standard rather than from a physical path.

In context

Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art74:29

how a camera might be errant. And there is a kind of power in being able to wander.

Collage as Method, Manuscript and Moving Image (Part of Cutting Edge: Collage in Britain conference)

More examples

She tucks an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
The dog guides an errant sheep back to the flock.
His errant pass sails out of bounds.

Similar words

stray: Often describes something separated from its expected place or group.
wayward: Often suggests disobedience or unpredictability rather than accidental deviation.