Dismiss

Dismiss is a verb with several related meanings centered on sending away, rejecting, or ending something. The main senses are: to order or allow someone to leave a place or position (such as an employee being dismissed), to reject or disregard a thought, proposal, or claim, and to terminate a process, dispute, or proceeding. The noun dismissal refers to the act or instance of dismissing, such as a job dismissal or a court dismissal.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin dimittere “to send away,” via Old French desmettre/demettre, entering English in the late Middle Ages. The core idea across senses is release or removal from a role, consideration, or action.

Uses: In employment, dismissal means termination of a contract of employment, which may be with or without cause and may involve notice or severance. In law, a case, charge, or claim can be dismissed by a court, ending the proceeding. In everyday language, to dismiss something is to treat it as unworthy of consideration, or to disregard a rumor, concern, or objection. A juror can be dismissed from service, and a party may seek dismissal of a suit or appeal. A related concept is constructive dismissal, where an employer’s conduct makes continued employment untenable for the employee.

See also: dismissal, dismissive, constructive dismissal, summary dismissal.