'dismissal' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'dimittere' (from 'di-'/ 'dis-' meaning 'apart/away' + 'mittere' meaning 'to send'), later formed in English by adding the suffix '-al' to 'dismiss'.

'dimittere' passed into Old French and Medieval Latin forms, influenced Middle English verbs such as 'dismissen'/'dismissen', and eventually became the modern English verb 'dismiss' and the noun 'dismissal'.

Initially, the Latin root meant 'to send away' in a literal sense; over time the English derivatives retained the core idea of 'sending away' while extending to senses like 'removing from office', 'rejecting', or 'ending employment'.