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
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
The Heat values Smith, who is recovering from a torn Achilles’, and is reluctant to subject him to waivers.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Each volunteer must complete an information form and a liability waiver.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
Also, the ordinance states that any waivers to the requirements must be approved by the council.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Judging by the advanced stats, Lawrence fell off in 2024, which likely played into the Rockies’ decision to put him on the waiver wire on Saturday.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waiver
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Each volunteer must complete an information form and a liability waiver.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
Also, the ordinance states that any waivers to the requirements must be approved by the council.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Judging by the advanced stats, Lawrence fell off in 2024, which likely played into the Rockies’ decision to put him on the waiver wire on Saturday.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waiver
Articles Related to waiver
Cite this Entry
“Waiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waiver. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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