在法律英语中该单词可用于指法院作出的撤销案件而不作进一步考虑的裁定，其可在诉讼的任何阶段作出，应被翻译为“驳回（诉讼或诉讼请求）”[1]。驳回诉讼的理由有多种，如因案件的法律根据不足，原告不在期限内递交索赔陈述，或不披露证据，或不到庭受审等。读者必须注意的是法院将已受理的诉讼或诉讼请求“驳回”与法院对案件“不予受理”（“法院不予受理案件”可被译为：The court refused to accept the case)之间的差别很大。而遗憾的是不少英汉（法律）词典却将两者混为一谈[2] 。
与dismissal相关的术语还有dismissal with prejudice (不利于原告的驳回）和dismissal without prejudice (有利于原告的驳回）。它们之间的主要差异在于dismissal with prejudice是指法庭根据案件实体作出的最终裁决，故当事人不得以同一诉讼理由重新提起任何诉讼[3]。而dismissal without prejudice则是指法院作出驳回裁定时未考虑诉讼案件的实体部分，故当事人可以同 —诉因再次向法院起诉[4]。
    
[1] “An order or judgment finally disposing of an action, suit, motion, etc. , without trial on the issue involved. Such may be either voluntary or involuntary. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 324，West Publishing Co. (1991).
[2]参见《英汉法律词典》编委会编：《英汉法律词典》（修订版），法律出版社1999年版，第244~245页。“dismiss:(律）驳回，不受理”，参见陆谷孙编： 《英汉大词典》，上海译文出版社1995年版，第898页。
[3] "Term meaning an adjudication on the merits, and final disposition, barring the right to bring or maintain an action on the same claim or cause. " Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 325, West Publishing Co. (1991).
[4]“A dismissal that does not bar the plaintiff from refilling the Lawsuit within the applicable limitations period. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 482，West Group (1999).