What does despatch mean?
Despatch is a chiefly British spelling variant of "dispatch", carrying exactly the same meanings and history. As a verb, it means to send someone or something off to a destination or for a specific purpose, often implying promptness and efficiency: a company might despatch goods to a customer, or a government despatch an envoy abroad. As a noun, it denotes the act of sending something, or an official written report or message transmitted quickly, as in a war correspondent's despatch from the front. The word carries a brisk, businesslike connotation, suggesting things handled without delay. Although "despatch" remains perfectly correct and appears in major British dictionaries, "dispatch" is by far the more common spelling today, especially outside Britain. Writers who choose "despatch" typically do so out of British convention or stylistic preference, but readers should understand that the two spellings are interchangeable rather than different words.
To send someone or something off to a destination or for a purpose, especially promptly.
"They despatched a technician the same afternoon the fault was reported."
Formal register; interchangeable with "dispatch".
The act of sending someone or something to a destination, or an official message or report sent with speed.
"His latest despatch from the front was published in full."
Standard plural for the noun senses.
"The archive contains dozens of diplomatic despatches from the 1890s."
"Despatch" and "dispatch" have coexisted since the 16th century — neither is a typo; they're rival spellings of one word that survived into modern dictionaries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of despatch
Despatch entered English in the early 16th century as a variant spelling of "dispatch", both forms arising almost simultaneously. The word derives from the Italian verb "dispacciare" (or Spanish "despachar"), formed from the prefix dis- plus the noun "pacca" or related to Latin "pedica" (a fetter, from pes, meaning foot), giving a root sense of setting free or putting in motion. Because English adopted the Italian and Spanish spellings alongside the French-influenced one, both "despatch" and "dispatch" have been legitimate since their earliest appearance, and cognates such as "expedite" and "impede" share the same Latin root concerning the foot.
Related word forms
How despatch is actually used
"Despatch" is a fully accepted but less common spelling variant of "dispatch." It is favoured in some British publications and official contexts, while "dispatch" dominates in American English and is now generally the more frequent form worldwide. The word has a formal, businesslike register.
Easily confused with despatch
"Dispatch" is simply the more common spelling of the same word, especially in American English; "despatch" carries identical meanings and is preferred mainly in British English.