Wave springs are wavy metal washers designed to offer a compensating spring force and maintain a load or take up shock. These are the disc of irregular shape formed in such a way that when loaded it deflects, acts like a spring, and provides a preload between two surfaces. Wave springs are very useful for limited radial space and moderate thrust load e.g. Axial loading of Ball bearing.

The number of waves can be two, three or ~ more. The spring rate is proportional to the number of waves raised to the fourth power.