Discharged

Discharged is the past participle of discharge, used as a verb and noun in multiple domains. It broadly refers to releasing or emitting something, freeing someone from a responsibility, or emptying a container or space.

In medicine, discharge most commonly means releasing a patient from a hospital or clinic after treatment. A discharge may be accompanied by discharge planning and a discharge summary that records diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up instructions.

In law and finance, discharge describes release from obligations, such as discharge of debts through bankruptcy, or the termination of a contract or duty. In the military, discharge denotes the formal release of a service member from active duty, which may be classified as honorable, general, other-than-honorable, medical, or dishonorable.

In science and engineering, electrical discharge refers to the emission of light and heat when a material becomes conductive, such as a spark between conductors or the plasma in a discharge lamp. Battery discharge is the depletion of stored chemical energy, while capacitor discharge is the release of energy stored in a capacitor.

In environmental regulation, discharge describes the release of pollutants into air or water, typically subject to permits and standards to limit environmental impact.

In common use, to discharge can also mean to dismiss or release someone from a duty or obligation, or to fire a weapon, i.e., to discharge a firearm.