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.
1
Law To relinquish (a right etc.); to give up claim to; to forgo.
If you waive the right to be silent, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.
Exhibiting what the dramatic critics call a "fine restraint," he waives his timely opportunity for discourse upon the celebrated gyascutus, which, as any Northwestern tourist will tell you, haunts the slopes of the most precipitous mountains—always evading capture because its legs, shorter on the one side of the body than on the other, are peculiarly adapted to scooting up an inclined plane.1907, John Ames Mitchell, Life - Volume 50, page 270:
2 more examples
The federal government will ban the import of live northern snakeheads beginning Friday, waiving the normal 30-day waiting period2002 March 10, Kory Dodd, “Feds Announce Regs to Ban 'Frankenfish' Imports”, in FOX News:
While there’s no reliable data on micro-housing, some notable policies and projects are popping up on that front too. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg waived the city’s zoning standards to allow micro-apartments.2016 December 28, Dan Hernandez, “Is an even smaller New York apartment the key to sustainable living?”, in The Guardian:
2
Law To relinquish claim on a payment or fee which would otherwise be due.
3
Hobbies, Law, Lifestyle, SportsCanada, US To release [a player] onto the waiver wire
Nearly 1,200 players will be cut, waived, or sent packing, and the scramble to land on a practice squad or catch on elsewhere will move fast.2025 August 24, Ryan Miller, “NFL roster cuts 2025: What to know about 53-man deadline, waivers, and practice squads”, in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:
Jaden Ivey has played his last game in Chicago, with the Bulls waiving Ivey following his controversial comments on social media about the LGBTQ community.2026 March 31, Chris Mannix, “Chris Mannix’s NBA Notes: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks Future, Jaden Ivey’s Ugly Exit”, in Sports Illustrated:
[…] seeing in many such occasions of common life we advisedly do renounce or waive our own opinions, absolutely yielding to the direction of othersa. 1683, Isaac Barrow, Sermon LIX, “Of obedience to our spiritual guides and governors”
But vvhat a vvretched, and diſconſolate Hermitage is that Houſe, vvhich is not viſited by thee [God], and vvhat a VVayue, and Stray is that Man, that hath not thy Markes vpon him?1624, John Donne, “13. Prayer”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, page 329:
waive
verb
Etymology From Middle English weyven (“to wave, waver”), from Old Norse veifa (“to wave, swing”) (Norwegian veiva), from Proto-Germanic *waibijaną.