WAY-vurz
/ˈweɪvɚz/
waivers is pronounced WAY-vurz (/ˈweɪvɚz/). Waivers are documents or agreements that excuse a person or entity from something, typically by temporarily suspending a rule or obligation. They can also refer to individuals who waive rights or claims. The word emphasizes the act of relinquishing or postponing a legal or formal demand rather than creating one. In context, waivers are often used in contracts, events, or sports to permit exceptions.
Waivers are documents or agreements that excuse a person or entity from something, typically by temporarily suspending a rule or obligation. They can also refer to individuals who waive rights or claims. The word emphasizes the act of relinquishing or postponing a legal or formal demand rather than creating one. In context, waivers are often used in contracts, events, or sports to permit exceptions.
"The festival required waivers of liability for all volunteers."
"She signed a waiver to participate in the research study."
"The contractor issued waivers to address potential claims from clients."
Pronounce as /ˈweɪ.vɚz/ in General American; the first syllable is stressed. The /weɪ/ sounds like “way.” The second syllable uses a rhotic schwa /ɚ/ or /ə/ with a voiced /z/ ending. Start with a light gliding /w/ into the /eɪ/ diphthong, then relax into the rhotic vowel and end with /z/. Audio reference: listen for stress on the first syllable in standard American releases.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /ˈweɪərz/ (skipping the rhotic vowel) or /ˈweɪ.vəz/ (unvoiced final). Another mistake is misplacing stress on the second syllable, producing /ˌweɪˈvɚz/. To correct: keep the /ɚ/ or /ər/ in the second syllable and voice the final /z/, ensuring the /ɚ/ is rhotacized. Practice by isolating the /ˈweɪ/ and then gliding into /vɚ/ with a clear /z/.
US: /ˈweɪ.vɚz/ with rhotic /ɚ/. UK: /ˈweɪ.vəz/ or /ˈweɪ.vəz/ with non-rhotic/weak rhoticity depending on speaker; final /z/ may sound more like /s/ in some traditions. AU: /ˈweɪ.vəz/ with a clearer vowel /ə/ and a post-vocalic /z/; rhoticity varies but often non-rhotic in casual speech.”
Difficulties include the diphthong /eɪ/ followed by a fast /v/ sound and a rhotacized or non-rhotacized ending depending on accent. The transition from /eɪ/ to /ɚ/ or /ə/ can blur; the final /z/ is voiced and subtle. Also many non-native speakers misplace the stress or blend /v/ and the following vowel. Focus on keeping /ˈweɪ/ steady, then add the rhotacized /ɚ/ or /ə/ before the final /z/.
The word hinges on a clear /ˈweɪ/ onset and a voiced, rhotacized or terminal vowel before /z/. The key is the /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, which interacts with the following /z/. In some varieties, you’ll hear a subtle /ɜː/ in the second vowel before /z/. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘waver’ vs. ‘waivers’ clarifies the added syllable and final voiced consonant.
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The term waiver comes from the verb waive, which derives from the Old French waiver, from waivre ‘to wave, brandish’ or ‘to bend, turn aside,’ translating through French into English in the late Middle Ages. The modern sense—an act of relinquishing a right or claim—emerged in the legal and contractual lexicon by the 16th to 17th centuries as formal documents began to record exceptions or permissions. Historically, waivers were often associated with religious or feudal contexts where rights or dues could be temporarily or conditionally relinquished. Over time, the word extended to general use in contracts, sports, medical consent, and liability forms. By the 19th and 20th centuries, the legal sector popularized standardized waivers, with standardized phrasing and sections that clearly delineate the scope, conditions, and implications of waiving rights. The pronunciation settled on /ˈweɪ.vɚz/ in General American, with small regional vowel and r-coloring variations shaping UK and Australian variants. The core idea—an intentional relinquishment of a known right or claim—has remained stable while the surrounding legal vocabulary has evolved. First known uses appear in printed English documents from the 1600s–1700s, though oral equivalents and earlier Latin-based expressions predate standardized English forms. Modern usage reflects a practical approach to risk management and consent across many domains.
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Words that rhyme with "waivers"
-ers sounds
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