What does dismissal mean?
Dismissal is a noun describing the act of dismissing—most commonly, removing someone from a job, but also ordering a person to leave, rejecting an idea as trivial, or throwing out a legal case. In workplace contexts it carries formal weight: 'wrongful dismissal' and 'unfair dismissal' are established legal terms, particularly in British employment law, while 'summary dismissal' refers to immediate termination without notice. Beyond employment, dismissal often connotes a certain brusqueness or contempt—a 'wave of dismissal' suggests someone brushing aside concerns without proper consideration. The word derives from the verb dismiss, which traces back through Old French to the Latin dismittere, meaning to send away in different directions. Its flexibility across professional, judicial, and interpersonal registers makes it a valuable word for describing both official decisions and subtle social slights.
The act of removing someone from their job, or an instance of this.
"She claimed her dismissal was motivated by age discrimination."
Common in legal and human-resources contexts; 'unfair dismissal' and 'wrongful dismissal' are established terms in employment law.
The act of telling someone they may leave, or of ordering them to go away.
"The class waited quietly until the teacher gave the signal for dismissal."
The treatment of something as unimportant or not worth considering.
"His proposal met with swift dismissal from the committee."
A judge's decision that a legal case should not proceed.
"The judge ordered the dismissal of all charges against the defendant."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple individual instances, such as several employees being dismissed or several cases being thrown out.
"The company announced a wave of dismissals following the merger."
In British law, 'unfair dismissal' is such a big deal that it has its own dedicated employment tribunal system.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dismissal
Dismissal derives from the verb dismiss, which entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French desmettre or directly from Latin dismittere, formed from dis- ('apart') plus mittere ('to send'). The original Latin sense was to send off in different directions or let go. The noun dismissal developed later to denote the act itself, and its range expanded over time from sending people away to ending employment, rejecting arguments, and disposing of court cases. It shares the Latin root mittere with a large family of English words including mission, transmit, permit, and submit.
How dismissal is actually used
The word is neutral-to-formal in register and common in legal, HR, and workplace contexts. In everyday speech, 'sacking' (British) or 'firing' (US) are more informal alternatives. 'Summary dismissal' is a fixed legal term for immediate termination without notice, usually for gross misconduct.
Easily confused with dismissal
'Dismiss' is the verb meaning to send away or reject, while 'dismissal' is the noun denoting the act or instance of doing so.