discharged

[ dis-chahrjd, dis-chahrjd ]

adjective

1. released, sent away, or allowed to leave:

   In hospitals nationwide during that period, 20 percent of all discharged patients over 65 had congestive heart failure as a primary or secondary diagnosis.

2. relieved or deprived of office or employment; dismissed from service:

   Our next speaker is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

3. Electricity. (of a battery, capacitor, etc.) emptied of a charge of electricity:

   This unit will recharge a fully discharged battery in 3.5 hours.

4. (of a firearm or missile) fired or shot:

   Gunshot residue can be deposited on clothing close to the discharged firearm.

5. poured forth or spilled out; emitted:

   Open each faucet and run the water until a distinct odor of chlorine can be detected in the discharged water.

6. Law.
   1. (of a defendant, especially one under confinement) allowed to go free; released:

      Under this law, conditions may be imposed that restrict a discharged defendant’s freedom of movement.

   2. (of a person declared bankrupt) released from debts:

      If I am a discharged bankrupt, will I still be able to get a mortgage?

   3. (of a contract, debt, or other obligation) canceled:

      Creditors can’t come after you to repay a discharged debt, since you’re no longer legally responsible for it.

7. emptied or relieved of its cargo:

   On the land side, a truck picks up containers from the discharged vessel or from the storage area.

8. (of cargo) removed or unloaded:

   Each discharged keg is weighed to ensure that it contains the correct quantity of beer before warehousing.

9. (of a duty, function, etc.) fulfilled, performed, or executed:

   There is no better example of faithfully discharged duty and courtesy of manner than the late Dr. Redford.

10. (of a committee in a legislative body) ordered to cease further consideration of a bill so that it can be voted on:

    Let the debate be closed by the one who proposed the bill, rather than by the chairman of the discharged committee.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of discharge.

Other Words From

• un·dis·charged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discharged¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; 1790–1800 discharged fordef 3; discharge ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; discharge ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Rollins considered joining the military but decided not to because he feared being outed or discharged as a closeted gay man under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy at the time.

From Los Angeles Times

She said two weeks after being admitted, her son was fit to be discharged from hospital.

From BBC

BBC News NI asked all the trusts for their figures, and it has emerged that at least 22 people in adult mental health hospitals can be discharged but have nowhere to go.

From BBC

Dishonourably discharged in 2000, McDonald worked briefly in a supermarket and at a factory packing chickens but soon began committing fraud.

From BBC

All five of the recipients are veterans who were honorably discharged from service:

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fired
• freed
• laid-off
• released
• sacked