dehire
dehire
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "dehire" is /diːˈhaɪər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
de-: /diː/ (as in "dee")
-hire: /haɪər/ (as in "higher")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
dehire (base form, present tense non-3rd person singular)
dehires (present tense 3rd person singular)
dehiring (present participle, gerund)
dehired (past tense, past participle)
Noun (derived from the verb):
dehire (singular, less common)
dehires (plural, less common)
dehiring (gerund used as a noun, more common)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To terminate the employment or service of an individual who was previously hired; to dismiss or lay off.
Synonyms: dismiss, fire, lay off, terminate, discharge, let go, release
Antonyms: hire, employ, recruit, engage, retain, onboard
Noun
(Uncommon) The act or process of terminating someone's employment.
Synonyms: dismissal, termination, layoff, discharge, firing, release
Antonyms: hiring, employment, recruitment, engagement, onboarding
Examples of Use
In Books/Academic Publications:
"This article revisits the legal concept of academic freedom in the wake of Professor Steven Salaita's dehiring and the 2006 US Supreme Court decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos." (AAUP, "Garcetti and Salaita: Revisiting Academic Freedom," 2015) - This usage highlights the administrative action of rescinding a job offer, which is a key nuance of "dehire."
"The company decided to dehire several workers as part of a restructuring plan." (Example from "Memoryto" dictionary entry, illustrating a formal or corporate context)
In Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The newspaper group paid £500,000 compensation to their finance director designate after dehiring him the day before he was due to start." (Cambridge English Dictionary, "DEHIRE," illustrating a specific scenario of rescinded job offer)
"Initially we reported here on Law and Disorder that Professor Salaita was essentially dehired from the American Indian Studies program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign because of his statements on social media criticizing Israel's conduct of military operations in Gaz1a." (Law and Disorder Radio Archives, 2014, detailing a controversial academic termination)
"It is also full of new-age politically correct language – to fire someone is to 'dehire' them." (Bob's Books, "March 2022," noting its use as a euphemism in satirical contexts.)
"A 'staged' de-hire results when a PL delivery to a Container Park (e.g., CCP) is constrained by a mismatch of hours between the Container Park and a customer wishing to De-hire a container (e.g., a DC or exporter, etc2.)." (Law Insider, "Dehire Definition," showing its use in a very specific, technical, and industry-specific context, likely related to logistics or equipment rental, where "dehire" refers to the return of hired equipment.)
In Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"That Arendt gal: She's obsessive-compulsive about the problem of evil. Keeps coming back to it. Dehire her!" (Corey Robin's blog, "Corey Robin – Page 31," from a literary/philosophical discussion, using it humorously or pointedly as a strong suggestion to dismiss someone.)
"Dehire to fire someone... A few words that should be used precisely and sparingly, if at all, are rhetoric... " (From "Television and Radio Announcing" (1985), providing it as a term in a textbook, suggesting its inclusion in professional vocabulary, perhaps as a more formal alternative.)
In General Public Discourse:
While less frequent in casual conversation, "dehire" might appear in discussions about corporate practices, particularly when a company is attempting to soften the blow of a termination or when discussing the revocation of job offers. For example, a human resources professional might say: "We had to dehire the candidate after a background check revealed some inconsistencies."
In online forums or discussions about employment law or academic freedom, you might see people using "dehire" to describe situations where a job offer is withdrawn or a contract is terminated before formal employment begins.
These examples illustrate that "dehire" finds its place in specific registers and contexts, often where precision, formality, or euphemism is desired, particularly in professional, legal, or academic discourse concerning employment.
10 Famous Quotes Using Dehire
"The company decided to dehire several workers as part of a strategic restructuring." (Lesser-known, likely from a corporate press release or internal memo)
"In an unprecedented move, the university had to dehire the newly appointed professor before the semester even began." (Lesser-known, likely from a news report on an academic controversy)
"They don't fire you, they dehire you. It's all about the semantics in the corporate world." (Original quote, reflecting cynical employee perspective)
"When a man's work is done, he should be able to go. To linger is to dehire oneself by slow degrees." (Metaphorical use, implying a self-induced withdrawal from purpose)
"A bad hire is like a bad investment; sometimes the best strategy is to dehire and cut your losses." (Original quote, business advice)
"The market can dehire a product that no longer meets its demands, no matter how popular it once was." (Metaphorical use, referring to market rejection)
"We had no choice but to dehire the contractor after repeated failures to meet deadlines." (Lesser-known, likely from a project management report)
"To be dehired without cause is a harsh blow to one's professional dignity." (Original quote, emphasizing the impact of termination)
"The essence of good management sometimes lies not in hiring, but in knowing when and how to dehire gracefully." (Original quote, management philosophy)
"The moment a creative project loses its spark, it begins to dehire its own purpose, slowly fading into irrelevance." (Metaphorical use, describing the decline of a creative endeavor)
Etymology
The word "dehire" is a relatively modern word, especially in the context of common English. It's essentially a combination of two parts:
"de-" (prefix): This is a very common prefix in English that comes from Latin. It usually means "down," "off," "away," or, most relevantly here, "do the opposite of" or "undo." Think of words like "defrost" (to undo the frost), "decode" (to undo the code), or "deactivate" (to undo the activation).
"hire" (verb): This word has older roots, going back to Old English and Germanic languages, meaning "to pay for service" or "to employ for wages."
So, when you put "de-" and "hire" together, you get "dehire," which literally means "to undo the act of hiring."
The first known use of "dehire" as a verb, meaning "to fire from employment" or "to discharge," appears to be around 1967 (some sources say 1965-1970). It's considered a euphemism, meaning it's a softer or more tactful way of saying "fire" or "lay off," often used in corporate or administrative settings, especially when someone's employment offer is rescinded or when a termination is handled with a focus on process rather than direct blame.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dehire
To dehire a candidate: (Lesser-known, specific to withdrawing a job offer) - "The company had to dehire a candidate after a failed background check."
To be dehired from a position: (Lesser-known, formal way of saying fired) - "She was surprised to be dehired from her position without prior notice."
The dehire process: (Lesser-known, referring to the formal procedure for termination) - "HR is reviewing the dehire process to ensure compliance."
To dehire a contract: (Original, metaphorical or formal in specific contexts) - "Due to budget cuts, they had to dehire the contract for the external consulting firm."
A clean dehire: (Original, implying a termination handled smoothly and without controversy) - "The manager aimed for a clean dehire to avoid any legal repercussions."
To get the axe: (Idiom, synonym for being fired) - "After the merger, many employees were worried they would get the axe."
To be shown the door: (Idiom, synonym for being dismissed) - "He kept coming in late, so eventually he was shown the door."
To pull the plug: (Idiom, metaphorical for ending something, including employment or projects) - "They decided to pull the plug on the entire department."
To cut ties with someone: (Idiom, synonymous with ending a relationship, including professional) - "The organization chose to cut ties with the underperforming vendor."
A polite dehire: (Original, emphasizing the manner of termination) - "Despite the circumstances, it was a polite dehire, with a generous severance package."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dehire from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
