Concession vs. Waiver — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Concession involves granting specific allowances or rights in negotiations, whereas a waiver involves relinquishing a known right, claim, or privilege.
Difference Between Concession and Waiver
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Concession typically refers to something granted after a negotiation or request, often seen in business, politics, or interpersonal relationships, where one party offers compromises or relaxations on certain demands. Conversely, a waiver is an intentional relinquishment or surrender of a legal right, claim, or privilege, usually confirmed through a written document, indicating that one party has voluntarily given up a legal right.
In the context of legal disputes, a concession might be an agreement where one party agrees to certain terms proposed by the other to settle a matter. Meanwhile, a waiver is specifically about the forsaking of a legal claim, such as the right to sue someone, thus preventing any future legal action regarding that right.
Concessions can be temporary or conditional, depending on the agreement's terms. For instance, a concession in a lease may allow a tenant to pay reduced rent for a specific period. In contrast, waivers are generally absolute, meaning once a right is waived, it's typically considered permanently relinquished.
In diplomacy or international relations, concessions involve yielding portions of one's position to reach a mutual agreement or treaty. On the other hand, a waiver is used to denote the specific act of foregoing a sovereign right or privilege, such as immunity, which can significantly impact diplomatic interactions.
In commercial settings, concessions are often financial or operational adjustments made by a business to accommodate customers, such as discounts or special terms of sale. Whereas, waivers are used to protect a business legally by having customers or clients agree not to hold the business liable for certain mishaps or issues, such as personal injury.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Granting of privileges or rights after negotiation
Voluntary relinquishment of a known right or claim
Context
Often used in negotiations, business deals, diplomacy
Legal documents, rights relinquishment
Nature
Can be conditional or temporary
Typically absolute and permanent
Common Uses
Business adjustments, diplomatic agreements
Legal protections, preventing claims
Legal Binding
May lead to new or modified agreements
Often results in forfeiting legal rights permanently
Compare with Definitions
Concession
A reduction in cost.
The company offered a concession in the subscription fee to attract more customers.
Waiver
Documented voluntary surrender.
The insurance waiver stated that any claims related to pre-existing conditions were not covered.
Concession
A privilege allowed under certain terms.
The museum offers a concession to students and elderly visitors.
Waiver
Giving up of privileges knowingly.
The waiver included a clause that exempted the organization from future claims.
Concession
A right granted by one party to another.
The developer received a concession to build on the land.
Waiver
A formal renunciation of a right.
He signed a waiver of liability before participating in the event.
Concession
A compromise in a dispute.
During the negotiations, both sides made several concessions.
Waiver
Surrender of claims.
The waiver of his inheritance rights was unexpected.
Concession
An acknowledgment in an argument.
She made a concession to his point but held firm on her main argument.
Waiver
Legal relinquishment document.
By signing the waiver, she forfeited her right to sue the company.
Concession
A thing that is granted, especially in response to demands
The government was unwilling to make any further concessions
Waiver
A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment or surrender of some known right or privilege. Regulatory agencies of state departments or the federal government may issue waivers to exempt companies from certain regulations.
Concession
A preferential allowance or rate given by an organization
Tax concessions
Waiver
Intentional relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege.
Concession
The right to use land or other property for a specified purpose, granted by a government, company, or other controlling body
New logging concessions
Waiver
The document that evidences such relinquishment.
Concession
The act of conceding.
Waiver
A dispensation, as from a rule or penalty.
Concession
Something, such as a point previously claimed in argument, that is later conceded.
Waiver
Permission for a professional athletic club to assign a player to the minor leagues or release a player from the club, granted only after all other clubs have been given the opportunity to claim the player and have not done so.
Concession
An acknowledgment or admission.
Waiver
A deferment.
Concession
A grant of a tract of land made by a government or other controlling authority in return for stipulated services or a promise that the land will be used for a specific purpose.
Waiver
To provide with a waiver or issue a waiver for.
Concession
The privilege of maintaining a subsidiary business within certain premises.
Waiver
The act of waiving, or not insisting on, some right, claim, or privilege.
Concession
The space allotted for such a business.
Waiver
(legal) A legal document removing some requirement, such as waiving a right (giving it up) or a waiver of liability (agreeing to hold someone blameless).
I had to sign a waiver when I went skydiving, agreeing not to sue even if something went wrong.
Concession
The business itself
There was an ice cream concession in the subway station.
Waiver
Something that releases a person from a requirement.
I needed a waiver from the department head to take the course because I didn't technically have the prerequisite courses.
I needed a waiver from the zoning board for the house because the lot was so small, but they let me build because it was next to the park.
Concession
A snack, drink, or other food sold at a concession
Bought concessions at halftime.
Waiver
(obsolete) The process of waiving or outlawing a person.
Concession
The act of conceding.
Waiver
(transitive) To waive (to relinquish, to forego).
Concession
An act of conceding, particularly:
Waiver
Misspelling of waver
Concession
A compromise: a partial yielding to demands or requests.
Waiver
The act of waiving, or not insisting on, some right, claim, or privilege.
Concession
Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose, particularly: township
Waiver
A formal written statement of relinquishment
Concession
A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:
Concession
(rhetoric) An admission of the validity of an opponent's point in order to build an argument upon it or to move on to another of greater importance; an instance of this.
Concession
(by extension) Any admission of the validity or rightness of a point; an instance of this.
Concession
An admission of defeat following an election.
Concession
A gift freely given or act freely made as a token of respect or to curry favor.
Concession
A franchise: a business operated as a concession (see above).
Concession
An item sold within a concession (see above) or from a concessions stand.
Concession
A person eligible for a concession price (see above).
Concession
To grant or approve by means of a concession agreement.
Concession
The act of conceding or yielding; usually implying a demand, claim, or request, and thus distinguished from giving, which is voluntary or spontaneous.
By mutual concession the business was adjusted.
Concession
A thing yielded; an acknowledgment or admission; a boon; a grant; esp. a grant by government of a privilege or right to do something; as, a concession to build a canal.
This is therefore a concession, that he doth . . . believe the Scriptures to be sufficiently plain.
When a lover becomes satisfied by small compliances without further pursuits, then expect to find popular assemblies content with small concessions.
Concession
A contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business;
He got the beer concession at the ball park
Concession
The act of conceding or yielding
Concession
A point conceded or yielded;
They won all the concessions they asked for
Common Curiosities
What is a concession?
A concession is an agreement or compromise where one party gives something up or makes a reduction in their demands or pricing to reach a mutual agreement.
Are waivers legally binding?
Yes, waivers, when properly constructed and signed, are legally binding documents.
Do waivers need to be in writing?
Generally, for a waiver to be enforceable, it needs to be in written form and clearly state the rights being relinquished.
Can concessions be revoked?
Yes, concessions can often be revoked or modified if agreed upon conditions are not met.
What does a waiver mean?
A waiver is a voluntary surrender of a right, claim, or privilege, usually to prevent future legal action on that right.
How are concessions used in diplomacy?
In diplomacy, concessions are used as negotiating tools where countries may yield parts of their demands to reach an agreement.
How does a waiver protect a business?
A waiver protects a business by legally ensuring that customers or clients cannot sue the business for specific incidents outlined in the waiver.
Can a concession affect a contract’s terms?
Yes, concessions can lead to adjustments or the creation of new terms within a contract.
What is an example of a waiver in sports?
In sports, athletes often sign waivers to not hold the organization liable for injuries sustained during play.
Can a waiver be implied?
While explicit waivers are preferable for clarity, implied waivers can occur through one's actions that suggest a relinquishment of rights.
What is an example of a concession in business?
A business may provide a concession by offering bulk pricing to a customer who agrees to purchase large quantities.
What is the difference between a waiver and a release?
A waiver is the act of relinquishing a right before any claims arise, whereas a release is the abandonment of any claims after they have occurred.
Is a waiver always permanent?
Most waivers are intended to be permanent, but the specifics can depend on the terms outlined in the waiver document.
What needs to be included in a waiver for it to be effective?
A waiver should clearly identify the rights being relinquished and be signed by the party giving up those rights, often witnessed or notarized for additional legality.
What roles do concessions play in conflict resolution?
Concessions are crucial in conflict resolution as they demonstrate goodwill and willingness to compromise, which can lead to an amicable settlement.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
