waiver
Americannoun
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Law.
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an intentional relinquishment of some right, interest, or the like.
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an express or written statement of such relinquishment.
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Sports. an arrangement under which a professional player is released to become available to join a different team, which must then assume the player’s existing contract.
noun
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the voluntary relinquishment, expressly or by implication, of some claim or right
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the act or an instance of relinquishing a claim or right
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a formal statement in writing of such relinquishment
Usage
What is a waiver? A waiver is an intentional or agreed upon release of your rights, usually in the form of a written contract. In the law, to waive your rights or interests is to purposely give them up. A waiver is this intentional giving up or the form that records your decision. Example: All you have to do to enter is to sign this waiver and give us your pass.
Etymology
Origin of waiver
First recorded in 1620–30; from Anglo-French weyver, noun use of weyver to waive; see -er 3
Explanation
A waiver is a formal statement giving up a right. If you go on a school trip, your mom might sign a waiver saying that the school is not responsible if you get hurt on the trip. When you sign a waiver, you’re voluntarily giving up a privilege or legal right. A waiver is often required before you participate in something dangerous. If you decide to go skydiving, you might have to sign a waiver agreeing that you won’t sue the skydiving company if you get injured. That means you’re assuming all the risk associated with the activity. Other types of waivers can involve officially declining various rights, such as a privacy waiver or an insurance waiver.
Vocabulary lists containing waiver
100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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Free Lunch
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Amari and the Night Brothers
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then, they made the same ask: a property tax waiver.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
The justice department, however, says the addendum is simply a customary waiver used in legal settlements.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Meanwhile, the U.K. has also eased its sanctions, with a trade waiver allowing the importation of Russian oil refined into diesel and jet fuel in third countries.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
But with the waiver set to end on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticised "unilateral coercive measures", without naming any country.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
“Rules are rules. Whoever nominated you should’ve filled out the proper waiver if your school year runs long. There’s always next summer—” He finally looks up at me and his eyes go wide.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
