dismissal

dismissal — noun

1. the situation when a company or organization tells a worker that they must leave

1.nounB1
Definition

the situation when a company or organization tells a worker that they must leave their job, usually because the worker has done something wrong or has not performed well enough

Example

After three warnings about lateness, Ayana received a letter of dismissal from her manager.

collocation: letter of dismissal

The union argued that the worker's dismissal was unfair and asked for his job back.

collocation: unfair dismissal

Common collocations
  • unfair dismissal
  • constructive dismissal
  • summary dismissal
  • letter of dismissal
  • immediate dismissal
  • reason for dismissal
  • dismissal for misconduct
Synonyms
  • firing

    more direct and slightly less formal than 'dismissal'

  • sacking

    informal British English term for the same situation

  • termination

    the most formal and neutral term; can also refer to ending a contract

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

dismissal of [employee]

dismissal from [position/company]

dismissal for [reason]

Usage Note

Contrast with 'resignation' (the employee chooses to quit) and 'layoff' (the employee is let go for business reasons, not their own fault). Uncountable when referring to the concept in general; countable when referring to a specific instance.

Common Mistakes

She received a dismissal from her job after saying she wanted to quit.
She received a dismissal from her job after being late too many times.
A dismissal is imposed by the employer; it is not the same as resigning.

2. the act of deciding that someone's idea, opinion, or piece of evidence is not im

2.nounB2
Definition

the act of deciding that someone's idea, opinion, or piece of evidence is not important enough to think about seriously

Example

The scientist's dismissal of the new evidence frustrated the rest of the research team.

pattern: dismissal of + [evidence/idea]

Defne waved her hand in dismissal when I tried to explain my plan.

collocation: gesture of dismissal

Common collocations
  • dismissal of
  • cavalier dismissal
  • summary dismissal
  • dismissal of concerns
  • dismissal of evidence
  • dismissal of an idea
  • dismissal of a claim
Synonyms
  • rejection

    broader — can apply to people as well as ideas; 'rejection' is less dismissive of the idea's value

  • disregard

    stronger emphasis on ignoring rather than actively rejecting

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

dismissal of [idea/claim/concern/evidence]

dismissal as + noun/adjective

Usage Note

The thing being dismissed is almost always stated explicitly after 'of' — 'dismissal of [idea/claim/evidence]'. Without this, the sentence may be confused with the employment sense.

Common Mistakes

His dismissal was rude.' (which sense? confusing).
His dismissal of her suggestion was rude.
Always specify what is being dismissed with 'of' to avoid ambiguity with the job sense.

3. a situation in which a judge ends a legal case or cancels charges before a full

3.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which a judge ends a legal case or cancels charges before a full hearing, usually since the available facts are too weak to continue or a legal rule prevents going ahead

Example

The judge ordered the dismissal of all charges against Apinya due to lack of evidence.

collocation: dismissal of charges

Sahil's lawyer filed a motion seeking dismissal of the case before trial.

pattern: motion for dismissal of [case]

Common collocations
  • dismissal of charges
  • motion for dismissal
  • dismissal of the case
  • dismissal with prejudice
  • dismissal without prejudice
  • order of dismissal
  • grounds for dismissal
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • indictment

    the formal accusation that starts a legal case

  • conviction

    a guilty verdict after a full trial

Grammar Patterns

dismissal of [charges/a case/a lawsuit]

motion for dismissal

dismissal with/without prejudice

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'acquittal' (a verdict of not guilty after a full trial). A dismissal happens before or without a trial. In US law, there is an important distinction between 'dismissal with prejudice' (the case cannot be brought again) and 'dismissal without prejudice' (the case can be refiled).

Common Mistakes

The defendant was found not guilty by dismissal.
The charges against the defendant were dropped by dismissal before trial.
A dismissal is not the same as a 'not guilty' verdict, which only comes after a trial.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • notice of dismissal
  • letter of dismissal
  • motion for dismissal
  • dismissal proceedings
  • dismissal notice

Adverbs

  • summarily dismissed → summary dismissal
  • immediately dismissed → immediate dismissal

Phrases

  • grounds for dismissal
  • risk of dismissal

Prepositions

  • dismissal from [job/court]
  • dismissal of [employee/idea/charges]
  • dismissal for [reason/misconduct]