dis ‧ miss W3 /dɪsˈmɪs/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: dimissus , past participle of dimittere 'to send away' ]
1 . to refuse to consider someone’s idea, opinion etc, because you think it is not serious, true, or important:
The government has dismissed criticisms that the country’s health policy is a mess.
dismiss something as something
He just laughed and dismissed my proposal as unrealistic.
It’s an idea that shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand (=dismissed immediately and completely) .
2 . to remove someone from their job SYN fire , sack
dismiss somebody from something
Bryant was unfairly dismissed from his post.
dismiss somebody for something
Employees can be dismissed for sending obscene emails.
REGISTER
In everyday British English, people usually say sack someone, and in everyday American English, people usually say fire someone, rather than use dismiss :
▪
He was sacked (BrE)/fired (AmE) for being late all the time.
3 . formal to tell someone that they are allowed to go, or are no longer needed:
The class was dismissed early today.
4 . if a judge dismisses a court case, he or she stops it from continuing:
The case was dismissed owing to lack of evidence.
5 . to end the ↑ innings of a player or team in the game of ↑ cricket
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ dismiss an idea/suggestion
Both actors dismissed any idea of a romantic relationship between them.
▪ dismiss a notion formal (=idea)
The Minister dismissed the notion that he had cut petrol tax because of the forthcoming by-election.
▪ dismiss a possibility
The Prime Minister dismissed the possibility of an early election.
▪ dismiss a claim
An industrial tribunal dismissed his claim of unfair discrimination.
▪ dismiss an allegation/charge
She claimed that she was honest and dismissed the allegations against her.
▪ dismiss a thought
Was he lying? I tried to dismiss the thought.
▪ dismiss fears
The Transport Minister dismissed fears that the Cotswold railway line would close.
▪ dismiss criticism
He dismissed criticism of the country's human rights record.
■ adverbs
▪ easily/lightly (=without much thought)
This is a question that cannot be dismissed lightly.
■ phrases
▪ dismiss something out of hand (=immediately, without thinking about it)
It's an interesting idea so don't dismiss it out of hand.