waiver

noun waiv·er \ ˈwā-vər \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

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

Watson missed most of last season—and received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA—after tearing his ACL in September.

— andy staples, SI.com, "How 'Scheduling for Success' Can Help the Pac-12 Keep Pace in the Playoff Era," 7 May 2018
Cunningham received a medical waiver from the NCAA to play next season after competing in only nine contests this past campaign.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville basketball lands surprise pledge from graduate transfer Christen Cunningham," 30 Apr. 2018
The bloc received a waiver that will expire on May 1.

— Bloomberg.com, "EU Risks Being ‘Collateral Damage’ in U.S.-China Trade Fight," 27 Apr. 2018
Currently, a zero-emission driver receives a toll waiver by indicating on the transponder device that three or more people are in the car.

— laura j. nelson, latimes.com, "Commuters who drive alone in zero-emission cars will no longer get free trips in L.A.'s toll lanes," 27 Apr. 2018
The security official, Pasquale Perrotta, had received a waiver from the E.P.A. under the Obama administration to hold outside employment, but the work has now become the subject of scrutiny in both the agency and Congress.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Mick Mulvaney’s confession highlights the corrosive influence of money in politics," 25 Apr. 2018
The security official, Pasquale Perrotta, had received a waiver from the E.P.A. under the Obama administration to hold outside employment, but the work has now become the subject of scrutiny in both the agency and Congress.

— kenneth p. vogel, eric lipton and jim rutenberg, New York Times, "Pruitt’s Security Chief Moonlighted for Tabloid Publisher That Backed Trump," 24 Apr. 2018
The 6-foot-2 Kentucky native played only nine games last year due to illness, but received a medical hardship waiver and will have one more season of eligibility remaining.

— bill landis, cleveland.com, "Samford graduate transfer guard Christen Cunningham visiting Ohio State basketball this week," 23 Apr. 2018
Several countries, including South Korea, received waivers from the tariffs, but import caps could still complicate matters.

— erica martinson, Anchorage Daily News, "Here’s what the Trump-China trade negotiations could mean for Alaska’s gas pipeline," 2 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

waiver Synonyms

Synonyms

disclaimer, 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

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

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.