What does "waive" mean?
A woman put out of the protection of the law; an outlawed woman.
Waive
/weɪv/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A woman put out of the protection of the law; an outlawed woman.
- Grammar: waive is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: forgo, relinquish, cede, give up.
- Useful contrasts: exacting, solid object example, taxing.
- Usage evidence: Tom does not want to waive his right to a jury trial.
How to use "waive"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "waive" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "waive" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "waive" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "waive" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "waive" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "forgo" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "waive", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A woman put out of the protection of the law; an outlawed woman. obsolete
- 2 A waif; a castaway. obsolete
"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?"
Verb
- 1 To relinquish (a right etc.); to give up claim to; to forgo. transitive
"If you waive the right to be silent, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law."
- 2 To move from side to side; to sway. obsolete
- 3 lose (something) or lose the right to (something) by some error, offense, or crime wordnet
- 4 To relinquish (a right etc.); to give up claim to; to forgo.; To relinquish claim on a payment or fee which would otherwise be due. transitive
- 5 To stray, wander. intransitive, obsolete
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 do without or cease to hold or adhere to wordnet
- 7 To put aside, avoid. archaic
"[…] seeing in many such occasions of common life we advisedly do renounce or waive our own opinions, absolutely yielding to the direction of others"
- 8 To outlaw (someone). obsolete
- 9 To abandon, give up (someone or something). obsolete
"but she might be waived, and held as abandoned."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Tom does not want to waive his right to a jury trial."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "waive"?
Common synonyms include: forgo, relinquish, cede, give up, renounce, abandon.
How do you use "waive" in a sentence?
Tom does not want to waive his right to a jury trial.
How do you pronounce "waive"?
Pronounced /weɪv/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
From Middle English weyven (“to wave, waver”), from Old Norse veifa (“to wave, swing”) (Norwegian veiva), from Proto-Germanic *waibijaną.
Etymology 3
From Anglo-Norman waive, probably as the past participle of weyver, as Etymology 1, above.