waiver

American  

[way-ver] / ˈweɪ vər /

noun

• waivers
  plural

1. Law.

   1. an intentional relinquishment of some right, interest, or the like.

   2. an express or written statement of such relinquishment.

2. 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.

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waiver British  

/ ˈweɪvə /

noun

1. the voluntary relinquishment, expressly or by implication, of some claim or right

2. the act or an instance of relinquishing a claim or right

3. a formal statement in writing of such relinquishment

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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• waivers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of waiver

First recorded in 1620–30; from Anglo-French weyver, noun use of weyver to waive; see -er ³

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waiver waivers

He alleged that he was asked to sign an artificial intelligence waiver for the television series “Spider Noir.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

Another is that the waiver has been tested in federal court, including the Supreme Court, and survived.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Residual dye lingers in tanks and fuel systems, Neuman said, adding that “even trace amounts in clear diesel can bring IRS and state penalties outside the waiver window.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

But given past underreporting, it will also require "decisive corrective measures to support the authorities' request for a waiver regarding the misreporting of data", the IMF said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Then I pull the football waiver from my pocket and slide it into the center of the table.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle

Temporary waivers on that ban will end on Jan. 1, 2028.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin recently submitted to Congress several waivers under the Clean Air Act granted by his Biden predecessors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Several other cheeses are expected to receive similar waivers, allowing farmers to feed livestock with grass and hay brought in from outside their strict geographical zone.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

If Bailey, at 6 feet 5 inches and 265 pounds, shines against the Chargers and does not make the roster, he seems like a longshot to clear waivers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

By 7:45 p.m., all thirty-five people who had signed waivers to enter the Red Zone had signed back out.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

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Related Words

• postponement
• remission

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