destituir

to dismiss

verb des-tee-TWEER Rare

Origin: From Latin destituere (to abandon, to leave without support), from de- + statuere (to set up).

Also means

to remove from office

Usage Note

Destituir is an irregular verb of the -uir group (destituyo, destituyes…). It means to dismiss or depose someone from a position of authority: destituir a un ministro (to sack a minister). It is more formal and drastic than despedir (to fire from a job); destituir implies removal from a public or high-ranking post.

Examples

"El presidente decidió destituir al ministro de defensa."

Natural Translation

The president decided to dismiss the defence minister.

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