waiver
UK: ˈweɪvə | US: ˈweɪvər
n. the act of voluntarily giving up a right, claim, or privilege
n. a legal document recording the relinquishment of a right
n. an exception or exemption from a rule or requirement
waiver = waiv<to abandon> + er<noun suffix>
- waiv: Derived from Old French weyver ("to abandon, forsake"), which traces back to Vulgar Latin wepare ("to refuse"). The modern sense retains the core idea of relinquishment.
- er: A common English suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "writer," "runner"), here indicating the result or document of the action.
Etymology Origin:
The word waiver emerged in Middle English (14th century) from Anglo-French legal contexts, where weyver described abandoning a claim. Over time, it evolved into a formal legal term for voluntary surrender, reflecting its Latin roots in refusal (wepare). The suffix -er solidified its noun form, emphasizing the actionable outcome (e.g., a signed document).
She signed a waiver to release the company from liability.
The athlete requested a waiver to bypass the age restriction.
The judge granted a waiver for the late submission.
Without a waiver, you cannot participate in the study.
The contract includes a waiver of future claims.