waiver

noun

waiv·​er ˈwā-vər How to pronounce waiver (audio)
Synonyms 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

Synonyms of waiver

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Through a Medicaid waiver program, Althaus pays her mother to care for Whitman in her absence. — Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 The larger gathering — with a concert that could be released publicly, according to a new report about arena video waivers — happens Friday. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 Mitch Bannon has the story of Ernie Clement’s path from the waiver wire to an MLB All-Star darling. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 July 2026 In order to have legally operated the drone, Alvarez must have obtained an airman’s certificate and a waiver, among other requirements, according to the statement. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for waiver

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French weyver, from waiver, verb

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of waiver was in 1628

Rhymes for waiver

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Browse Nearby Words

waive
waiver
waiver of premium
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Cite this Entry

“Waiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waiver. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

waiver

noun
waiv·​er ˈwā-vər How to pronounce waiver (audio)
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 How to pronounce waiver (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on waiver

Nglish: Translation of waiver for Spanish Speakers

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