discharge

23 synonyms and 2 antonyms for discharge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

release free drop complete clear firing run

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

dismiss expel emit dispatch arc dismissal sack emission liberation

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

unload acquit assoil sacking expelling dismission outpouring

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.

“The nurse said the doctors would discharge her this afternoon if she felt well.”

release dismiss expel emit unload free acquit assoil drop dispatch complete clear

Opposites

enlist charge

2. noun

The act of releasing someone or something, such as a patient, employee, or soldier.

“The soldier's discharge from the navy came after a long, proud career.”

sacking expelling arc dismissal sack emission firing dismission release run liberation outpouring

How to use discharge

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

honorable discharge discharge a patient discharge a debt

Etymology

From Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier ("to unload"), from Late Latin discarricare — built from dis- + charge.

Full origin of discharge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “discharge” mean?

The word “discharge” means to officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody. In plain terms, to release, let out, or pay off — used for hospital patients, soldiers, weapons, liquids, debts, and more depending on context.

How do you pronounce “discharge”?

“Discharge” is pronounced dihs-CHAHJ (/dɪsˈtʃɑɹdʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “discharge” in a sentence?

Here is “discharge” used in a sentence: “He was discharged from the hospital after a week of treatment.”

What part of speech is “discharge”?

Depending on how it is used, “discharge” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “discharge” come from?

The word “discharge” comes from Late Latin. From Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier ("to unload"), from Late Latin discarricare — built from dis- + charge.

Is “discharge” a common word?

“Discharge” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “discharge” have?

“Discharge” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.

What is the difference between 'discharge' and 'fire' when it comes to a job?

Both can mean dismissing an employee, but 'discharge' is more formal and neutral and is common in official or legal contexts. 'Fire' is informal and blunter, and unlike discharge it rarely appears in respectful or ceremonial wording.

What prepositions are used with 'discharge'?

When it means to release a person, you are usually discharged 'from' a place or role, as in discharged from hospital or from the army. When it means to release a substance, something is discharged 'into' a place, such as waste discharged into a river.

What is the difference between being 'discharged' and being 'released' from hospital?

They mean essentially the same thing, but 'discharged' is the standard medical and administrative term for officially allowing a patient to leave. 'Released' is the more everyday, less formal way of describing the same event.

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free run clear complete release charge drop firing arc liberation sack dismiss

Nearby words

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