Definition of dismiss

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dismissal >

dis·miss    (ds-ms) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
dis·missed, dis·miss·ing, dis·miss·es

1. To end the employment or service of; discharge.
2. To direct or allow to leave: dismissed troops after the inspection; dismissed the student after reprimanding him.
3. 1. To stop considering; rid one's mind of; dispel: dismissed all thoughts of running for office.
   2. To refuse to accept or recognize; reject: dismissed the claim as highly improbable.
4. Law To put (a claim or action) out of court without further hearing.
5. Sports
   1. To eject (a player or coach) for the remainder of a game.
   2. To put out (a batter) in cricket.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English dismissen, from Medieval Latin dismittere, dismiss-, variant of Latin dmittere : d-, dis-, apart ; see dis- + mittere, to send

OTHER FORMS:
dis·missi·ble(Adjective), dis·mission  (-mshn) KEY (Noun)

SYNONYMS:
dismiss, boot¹, bounce, can², cashier², discharge, drop, fire, sack¹

These verbs mean to terminate the employment of: was dismissed for insubordination; was booted for being late; afraid of being bounced for union activities; wasn't canned because his uncle owns the business; will be cashiered from the army; resort workers discharged at the end of the season; was dropped for incompetence; was fired unjustly; a reporter sacked for revealing a confidential source. See also Synonyms at eject.