Word
waive
US/ˈweɪv/
UK/wˈeɪv/
Definition
v. to officially give up a right or a rule. You use this when you choose not to use a power you have, like a fee or a legal requirement.
v. to refrain from insisting on or enforcing a right, claim, or privilege. Often used in legal or administrative contexts to indicate the voluntary relinquishment of a known right.
Examples
“The bank agreed to waive the late payment fee.”
“The university decided to waive the application fee for students from low-income backgrounds to encourage more diverse enrollments.”
“By signing the contract, the athlete agreed to waive his right to a trial, opting instead for private arbitration in the event of a dispute.”
Examples
simple
“The bank agreed to waive the late payment fee.”
contextual
“The university decided to waive the application fee for students from low-income backgrounds to encourage more diverse enrollments.”
complex
“By signing the contract, the athlete agreed to waive his right to a trial, opting instead for private arbitration in the event of a dispute.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a noun representing a right, fee, or requirement.
Pitfall
He waived to his friend
He waved to his friend
Learners confuse 'waive' (to give up a right) with 'wave' (to move your hand in greeting).
Real-World Examples
“She waived her legal right to anonymity to speak publicly about this for the first time.” “Nichols waived her automatic right to anonymity in March when she made a Commons speech and described having to wait more than 1,000 days to go to court.” “Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, centre, waived her anonymity to tell parliament about her rape and subsequent experience with the courts.” Etymology
From Middle English weyven (“to avoid, renounce”), from Anglo-Norman weyver (“to abandon, allow to become a waif”), from Old French waif (“waif”), from gaiver (“to abandon”), ultimately of Scandinavian/North Germanic origin; see weyver.
From Middle English weyven (“to wave, waver”), from Old Norse veifa (“to wave, swing”) (Norwegian veiva), from Proto-Germanic *waibijaną.
From Anglo-Norman waive, probably as the past participle of weyver, as Etymology 1, above.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/waive