Despatch

Despatch, when spelled in British English, or dispatch in American English, refers to the act of sending someone or something to a destination. It can also denote the thing that is sent—a shipment, mail, or message. The verb to despatch (or to dispatch) means to send off promptly or to take steps to deal with something quickly.

Etymology and spelling: the term derives from Old French despatcher, meaning to hasten or to send off. The spelling despatch preserves traditional British usage, while dispatch is the standard form in American English. In some contexts, the word remains a formal or institutional term, used in government, postal services, or corporate names.

Uses and contexts: in logistics and commerce, despatch denotes the process of preparing orders for shipment and issuing the necessary paperwork; a dispatch note or despatch note accompanies a shipment. In postal and courier services, dispatch centres coordinate the collection and routing of letters and parcels. In military and historical contexts, despatch riders carried urgent messages; the term survives in phrases such as despatch rider or despatch box, the latter referring to official or confidential correspondence.

Related terminology and modern practice: contemporary logistics often uses dispatch to describe the overall activity of sending goods or messages, while despatch continues to appear in British spellings, older documents, and some organizational names. Both forms are recognized, with the choice typically aligning to regional or organizational style guides.