dismissal

noun

dis·​miss·​al dis-ˈmi-səl 

: the act of dismissing : the fact or state of being dismissed

Synonyms

• ax
• axe
• discharge
• furlough
• layoff
• redundancy [chiefly British]

Examples of dismissal in a Sentence

numerous dismissals from the company during the economic slump

Recent Examples on the Web

The Houston Chronicle reported that NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston has informed employees still in their probationary period to prepare for dismissal. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

Danielle Sassoon, Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, resigned in refusal to carry out the Justice Department’s directive to file the dismissal. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025

The dismissals are part of Trump's wave of mass firings throughout the federal workforce, engineered by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025

The fallout from those dismissals became apparent in the Oval Office last week—their jobs are now Musk’s job. —Dan Alexander, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

dismissal

noun

dis·​mis·​sal

1

: removal from a position or service

2

a

: the termination of an action or claim usually before the presentation of evidence by the defendant

— involuntary dismissal

: the dismissal of an action by the court because of the plaintiff's failure to pursue his or her case

: the dismissal of an action by the court upon motion of the defendant after presentation of the plaintiff's case made on the grounds that the plaintiff has shown no right to relief

Note: An involuntary dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) prevents the plaintiff from bringing suit again based on the same claim.

— voluntary dismissal

: the dismissal of an action by the plaintiff

Note: Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a), a plaintiff may dismiss an action without a court order anytime before the defendant serves an answer or moves for summary judgment, or by stipulation of the parties. Otherwise, a court order is required. A court-ordered dismissal will not prevent the plaintiff from bringing the action again unless the order so states. A dismissal without a court order will not bar the plaintiff from bringing the action again unless the plaintiff has brought the same action already.

b

: the cancellation of an indictment, information, complaint, or charge

Note: Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 48, the attorney for the government may dismiss the indictment, information, or complaint with the court's approval. The court may also dismiss it if there is unnecessary delay in the government's prosecution of the case.

c

: a document setting forth the request for a dismissal

plaintiff filed a dismissal