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

• disclaimer
• quitclaim
• 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

Marcus Maye, who was claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins last week, grabbed an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter, helping erase a baffling fake punt that went awry from the Chargers’ 36-yard line. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024

The Chargers claimed safety Marcus Maye off waivers on Wednesday, after Gilman was injured Monday night. —Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024

The Chargers defense will look to rely on Marcus Maye, whom L.A. picked up off waivers Wednesday. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024

Illinois - Students must file the FAFSA or provide a waiver in order to graduate high school. —Robert Farrington, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French weyver, from waiver, verb

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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