Discharge: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in medical or military contexts when someone is officially allowed to leave a hospital or the military.

• The patient was discharged from the hospital after a week.
• He received his honorable discharge from the army.

Commonly used when freeing someone from confinement or a restrictive situation, such as prison or a contract.

• The prisoner was released after serving ten years.
• They agreed to release the artist from his contract.

Often used in work or school settings when someone is removed from their position or job. This word can carry a negative connotation.

• His constant tardiness led to his dismissal from the company.
• The student's dismissal from the class was due to disruptive behavior.

Used for formal or informal occasions when someone is leaving, often involving a celebration or farewell gathering.

• They gave her a warm send-off on her last day at work.
• The team organized a big send-off before his departure.

This term is often used in medical and military contexts. In medicine, it refers to the release of a patient from hospital care. In the military, it means the official release of someone from active duty. It can also have legal implications when someone is released from an obligation.

• The doctor signed the discharge papers for the patient.
• After serving for two years, he received an honorable discharge from the navy.

This word is specifically used in a military context and means the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. It is often used after a war or large-scale conflict.

• The troops will begin their demobilization next month.
• After the end of the war, the country focused on the demobilization of its military forces.

This term is generally used when someone stops working permanently, usually due to reaching an age when they are eligible for pensions or retirement benefits. It is often associated with the end of a long career.

• She decided to take an early retirement at the age of 55.
• His colleagues threw a big party to celebrate his retirement after 40 years of service.

In a technical context, it refers to the release of energy, often electricity.

• The battery needs to be fully discharged before recharging.
• There was an unexpected discharge of static electricity.

Commonly used in everyday language when something or someone is set free or made available.

• The new movie will be released next month.
• He released the bird back into the wild.

Used when something, typically energy or emotion, scatters or fades away. Often heard in scientific or emotional contexts.

• The fog dissipated as the sun rose higher.
• His anger began to dissipate after he took a few deep breaths.

Carries a sense of something powerful being set free, often with an intense or dramatic effect. It can have a negative connotation, too.

• The storm unleashed its fury on the coastal town.
• She unleashed her anger on her unsuspecting friend.