fired

The word “fired” means dismissed from a job. In plain terms, either let go from a job, or hardened by heat (like pottery in a kiln).

“Fired” is pronounced FEYE-uhd (/ˈfaɪ̯ɚd/ in IPA).

Here is “fired” used in a sentence: “She got fired for showing up late three times in a row.”

“Fired” is an adjective.

The word “fired” comes from Old English. From fire, going back through Old English fȳr to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fire.".

“Fired” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Fired” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dismissed from a job.

Being fired usually means you were dismissed because of your own conduct or performance, so the reason relates to you. Being laid off means your position was cut for business reasons, such as cost-saving or restructuring, through no fault of your own. Layoffs are generally seen as more neutral than firings.

Being fired is the employer's decision to end your employment. Quitting, or resigning, is your own decision to leave. The difference matters for references and benefits: people who are fired can often claim unemployment support, while those who quit voluntarily usually cannot, depending on local rules and the reasons involved.

They mean much the same thing, but terminated is the formal, neutral term employers use in official documents, while fired is the everyday spoken word. Termination can technically cover any end of employment, including layoffs, whereas fired more strongly implies dismissal for cause, such as misconduct or poor performance.