dismissal

[ dis-mis-uhl ]

noun

1. an act or instance of dismissing.
2. the state of being dismissed.
3. a spoken or written order of discharge from employment, service, enrollment, etc.

Other Words From

• nondis·missal noun
• predis·missal noun
• redis·missal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismissal¹

First recorded in 1800–10; dismiss + -al ²

Example Sentences

Sporting minds of their own, these shared vehicles predictively swarm to where they’re likely to be needed next—outside schools before dismissal, at the stop for an arriving bus, or by the pub at last call.

From Nautilus

Many scientists simply assumed that invertebrates like planaria couldn’t be trained, making the dismissal of McConnell’s work easy.

From Nautilus

Two years later, a federal appeals court in Cincinnati upheld the dismissal of Aaron Hayward’s claims.

From ProPublica

Other than dismissal, the best outcome for an officer charged with official misconduct is pretrial intervention.

From ProPublica

A month or so before the final dismissal, Stewart’s mother had moved the family to Washington state.

From ProPublica

Kocurek said he was told he had been terminated “for cause,” a catchall term that allows dismissal for just about any reason.

From The Daily Beast

Though this might easily have been grounds for dismissal or reassignment, nothing of the sort happened.

From The Daily Beast

Now Gore stands alone in his dismissal of reform, openness, transparency and peer-review to ensure good science.

From The Daily Beast

He had been paid $300,000 by News International after claiming “unfair dismissal.”

From The Daily Beast

Supporters of conspiracy peddler Alex Jones are FURIOUS that I dared to note his dismissal of the Apollo 11 mission.

From The Daily Beast

Was it the threat of Tony's near arrival that made her confession—and his dismissal—at last inevitable?

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed to her that she had lived for a century since the few hours before when Madame Malmaison had given her a curt dismissal.

From Project Gutenberg

Though Richard could not fail to apprehend the implied dismissal, he was minded at first to disregard it.

From Project Gutenberg

That woman, since her dismissal after my brother's death, has never really quit this neighborhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Felix did not wait to have his dismissal repeated; he took his hat and went without another word.

From Project Gutenberg