Phrase guide

waiver wire

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

a league-wide list to which an inexperienced player is added for a short period when cut from a team's roster; any team in the league may make a claim for the player during the period, at the end of which the lowest ranking claimant has right of first refusal, or the player may become a free agent if unclaimed

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US, countable, uncountable

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: waivers

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a similar period during which managers can claim a player, with successful claimants decided in various ways depending on the league.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US, countable, uncountable

Topics: fantasy, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

"Wire" in the sense of telecommunications. The original waiver wire was "a network of telex communications where the status of all players is made known to all of the clubs".