dismissal
dis-MIS-ul
/dɪsˈmɪsəl/
The act of ordering or allowing someone to leave; the act of firing someone from a job.
While often interchangeable with "termination" in employment, "dismissal" can also refer to sending someone away (e.g., "dismiss a class") or rejecting an idea ("dismiss an argument").
The story behind the word. "Dismissal" comes from the verb "dismiss," which traces back to the Latin dismittere, meaning "to send away, to send off." It's formed from dis- (meaning "apart" or "away") and mittere (meaning "to send"). So, to dismiss someone is literally to send them away from their post.
Word relationships
- termination: Very similar in employment context.
- firing: More informal.
- discharge: Formal, often used in military or medical contexts.
- hiring: The act of employing someone.
- retention: The act of keeping employees.
Commonly confused with
- resignation: 'Dismissal' is employer-initiated, 'resignation' is employee-initiated.
Word family
- dismiss (verb): To order or allow to leave; to fire from a job.
Collocations
- unfair dismissal
- summary dismissal
- constructive dismissal
- wrongful dismissal
Example sentences
- "The company faced legal action for unfair dismissal after letting go of several long-term employees without cause." Employment context.
- "The judge ordered the dismissal of the charges due to insufficient evidence." General meaning.
Memory hook
When you dismiss someone, you miss them being there because you've sent them away. Send away.
When not to use
Don't use for voluntary departure; use 'resignation.'
Fun facts
- "Dismissal" is also used in sports, like cricket, when a batsman is "dismissed" (out).
Related words
Also appears in
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