waiver

noun

waiv·​er ˈwā-vər 

1

: the act of intentionally relinquishing or abandoning a known right, claim, or privilege

also : the legal instrument evidencing such an act

2

: the act of a club's waiving the right to claim a professional ball player who is being removed from another club's roster

—often used in the phrase on waivers denoting the process by which a player to be removed from a roster is made available to other clubs

Synonyms of waiver

• exemption
• release

Examples of waiver in a Sentence

a criminal defendant's waiver of a jury trial

The college got a special waiver from the town to exceed the building height limit.

He signed an insurance waiver before surgery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Second, the Legislature should pass AB 1777, which would strengthen California’s authority to address freight pollution hotspots without relying on uncertain federal waivers — critical for a region anchored by major ports and freight corridors. —Bob Keefe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

Vasil had 82 strikeouts and 52 walks in 101 innings after the Sox claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on March 23. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026

Under the Biden administration, the rules were supported, and California received a Clean Air Act waiver in 2024, allowing the state to continue pursuing its zero-emission vehicle goals. —Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Thursday of last week, the Treasury Department announced a 30-day waiver of sanctions against purchasing oil currently loaded on any Russian vessel in an effort to further boost supply. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French weyver, from waiver, verb

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for waiver

• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver
• paver
• quaver
• raver
• saver

Kids Definition

waiver

noun

waiv·​er ˈwā-vər 

1

: the act of intentionally giving up a right, claim, or privilege

2

: a document containing a declaration of a waiver

Legal Definition

waiver

noun

waiv·​er ˈwā-vər 

: the act of intentionally or knowingly relinquishing or abandoning a known right, claim, or privilege

also : the legal instrument evidencing such an act compare estoppel, forfeiture

Note: Acts or statements made while forming or carrying out a contract may constitute a waiver and prevent a party from enforcing a contractual right (as when an insurer is barred from disclaiming liability because of facts known to it when it issued the insurance policy). Varying standards are applied by courts to determine if there has been a waiver of various constitutional rights (such as the right to counsel) in criminal cases.

Etymology

Anglo-French, from waiver to waive