discharge
verb
uk/dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ/ us [ T ]
to give someone an official order or legal permission to end their duty in the army, a court, a prison, etc.:
The judge discharged the jury and ordered a retrial.
He was honourably discharged from the Army three years ago.
[ T ] HR
if a company or organization discharges an employee, it makes them leave their job:
discharge sb for sth Several of the directors were later discharged for mismanaging shareholder funds.
Compare
fire
[ T ] LAW, FINANCE
to give a bankrupt person legal permission to stop owing a particular debt:
discharge a bankrupt First-time bankrupts are typically discharged automatically after 12 months.
discharge a debt Bankruptcy laws generally won't let people discharge their student loan debt.
Compare
discharge in bankruptcy
[ T ] FINANCE
to pay the total amount owed for a debt, loan, payment, etc.:
The company continues to discharge its loan repayment obligations in time.
[ T ]
to do an official task or duty:
discharge a duty/responsibility/obligation
[ I or T ] ENVIRONMENT
if a business or factory discharges gas, chemicals, liquid waste, etc., it sends these substances into the air or water:
Companies must be issued a permit from the EPA before they are allowed to discharge.
discharge sth into sth The mine has a federal permit to discharge mine wastewater into the river.
[ I or T ] TRANSPORT
to take goods off a ship or plane or to allow passengers to get off:
It took a whole day to discharge the ship.
discharge
noun
uk/ˈdɪstʃɑːdʒ/ us [ C ] FINANCE
the end of a debt, or an official order that ends someone’s duty to pay a debt:
Bankrupts must undergo credit counselling before receiving a discharge of their debts.
loan discharges and cancellations
[ C or U ] ENVIRONMENT
a waste substance that is sent into the air or water from a factory or business:
$1 billion was spent to reduce the plant’s mercury discharge.
[ U ] HR formal
an official order that ends someone’s job:
He sued the company for wrongful discharge.
[ C or U ]
an official order or legal permission to leave your duty in the army, a court, a prison, etc.:
honourable/dishonourable discharge If convicted, his sentence will include a reduction in rank to private and a dishonourable discharge.
[ U ] formal
the act of doing a task or duty that you must do:
discharge of duties/responsibilities Employees found to have committed any breaches in the discharge of their duties will be reprimanded.
[ U ] TRANSPORT
the job or activity of getting goods or passengers off a ship or plane:
The west docks are used for the loading and discharge of cargo.
See also
order of discharge