waiver

play

noun waiv·er \ ˈwā-vər \

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of waiver

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

See waiver defined for English-language learners

See waiver defined for kids

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 of waiver from the Web

The city Board of Appeals also recommended approval of the waiver.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "New restaurant, retail store gets preliminary OK in Aberdeen," 29 Aug. 2017
Carroll made clear Thursday that McKissic — who was claimed off waivers last December and played in the season finale and in both playoff games — has caught his eye in training camp.

— bob condotta, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks players to watch vs. Chiefs: Chris Carson, Jermaine Kearse, Rees Odhiambo and more," 24 Aug. 2017
As helmets are standard on rocky stretches and dry suits assist on colder waters, drowning is still a remote possibility, which is why commercial trips and river guides still have such long waivers.

— peter reese, Popular Mechanics, "Five Things to Know Before Running a Wild River," 11 Aug. 2017
Participants should bring a mat and a water bottle and must sign a waiver.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 8 Aug. 2017
The waiver will be published in the Federal Register in the coming days, the agency said.

— ron nixon, New York Times, "Homeland Security to Bypass Environmental Laws in Border Wall Work," 1 Aug. 2017
The waiver applies to roughly 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean east to the area pegged for prototypes.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Homeland Security waives environmental rules for San Diego border wall," 1 Aug. 2017
Not all states are expected to seek waivers, because Medicaid enjoys wide political support in many states, particularly in the Northeast and West.

— phil galewitz, Kaiser Health News, "Even Without Congress, Trump Can Still Cut Medicaid Enrollment," 28 July 2017
The Cubs claimed him off waivers that October, sent him to Class AAA Iowa the following May and released him in August.

— tim tierney, Daily Southtown, "Ex-major leaguer Joseph Ortiz hits comeback trail with Slammers," 26 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'waiver.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of waiver

Anglo-French weyver, from waiver, verb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1628

See Words from the same year

waiver Synonyms

Synonyms

disclaimer, quitclaim, release

Related Words

dispensation, exemption, indemnity; abdication, relinquishment, renouncement; handover, renunciation, surrender

Financial Definition of WAIVER

waiver

noun

What It Is

A waiver is a party's voluntary renunciation of rights in a contractual arrangement.

How It Works

When two parties enter into a contract, they often agree to forfeit some of their respective rights or claims. Either party may use a waiver -- expressed either in writing or through the performance of a specific deed -- to officially give up a privilege, right, or claim.

For example, one party might sign a waiver stating that he or she will not take legal action against the other party if there is some unintentional wrongdoing.

Why It Matters

It is important to remember that a party who signs a waiver is surrendering his or her right to pursue a course of action (file a lawsuit, receive compensation, etc). In most cases, a party will sign a waiver only if he or she receives a benefit in exchange for doing so.

Source: Investing Answers

WAIVER Defined for English Language Learners

waiver

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noun

Definition of waiver for English Language Learners

: the act of choosing not to use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required
: an official document indicating that someone has given up or waived a right or requirement

Law Dictionary

waiver

play

noun waiv·er \ ˈwā-vər \

legal Definition of waiver

: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.