dismissal

[dɪsˈmɪsəɫ]

/[dɪsˈmɪsəɫ]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"dismissal" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dismissal” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #10,841. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#10,841
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords
12
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of sending someone away.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

dismissal vs dismissed
78% similar
dismissal vs dismiss
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for dismissal
PropertyValue
Headworddismissal
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[dɪsˈmɪsəɫ]
Letters9
Frequency rank#10,841
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “dismissal” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). dismissal lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around dismissal (IPA [dɪsˈmɪsəɫ]), anoun. Corpus frequency is #10,841 among 26,416 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 8 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for dismissal, with forms such as "ddismissal", "dimsissal", and "disimssal". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "dismissed", "dismiss", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From dismiss + -al. A nineteenth-century coinage (modelled on committal etc.), replacing the regular form dismission. The correct English form is dismissal, spelled D-I-S-M-I-S-S-A-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of sending someone away.
  2. 2
    Deprivation of office; the fact or process of being fired from employment or stripped of rank.
  3. 3
    A written or spoken statement of such an act.
  4. 4
    Release from confinement; liberation.
  5. 5
    Removal from consideration; putting something out of one's mind, mentally disregarding something or someone.
  6. 6
    The rejection of a legal proceeding, or a claim or charge made therein.
  7. 7
    The event of a batsman getting out; a wicket.
  8. 8
    The final blessing said by a priest or minister at the end of a religious service.

Etymology

From dismiss + -al. A nineteenth-century coinage (modelled on committal etc.), replacing the regular form dismission.

This word in other languages

despido(Español)limogeage(Français)Wegschicken(Deutsch)dispensa(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddismissal
  • dimsissal
  • disimssal
  • dismisal
  • dismisasl
  • dismissall
  • dismissla
  • dismmissal
  • dismsisal
  • dissmissal
  • dsimissal
  • idsmissal

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of dismissal - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ddismissal1dimsissal2disimssal2dismisal1dismisasl2dismissall1dismissla2dismmissal1
Edit distance from "dismissal"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "dismissal"?
"dismissal" is spelled D-I-S-M-I-S-S-A-L. The IPA pronunciation is [dɪsˈmɪsəɫ].
What does "dismissal" mean?
As a noun, "dismissal" means: The act of sending someone away.
What words are commonly confused with "dismissal"?
"dismissal" is commonly confused with "dismissed", "dismiss". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "dismissal"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dismissal" is [dɪsˈmɪsəɫ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "dismissal"?
From dismiss + -al. A nineteenth-century coinage (modelled on committal etc.), replacing the regular form dismission. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “dismissal”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-S-M-I-S-S-A-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [dɪsˈmɪsəɫ] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “dismissed” - see the side-by-side comparison. dismissal vs dismissed
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list