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sack

verb C1 Formal

Meaning

To dismiss or terminate an employee from their position, often abruptly and without prior warning, typically due to performance issues or organizational restructuring; may also imply a loss of status or privilege in a broader context.
💡 While "sack" is commonly used in informal contexts, in professional discourse, it may be perceived as colloquial or lacking in tact; alternatives such as "dismiss" or "terminate" are often preferred for formal communication.

Example Sentences

The company decided to sack employees who violated the safety protocols .
The company decided to sack several employees due to budget cuts .

Word in Context

As the company prepared to restructure the department , I found myself having to sack a long - standing colleague whose role had fundamentally changed . I explained the rationale calmly , outlining the business reasons and the support available , because even unwelcome decisions are easier to accept when they are transparent . He listened without anger and asked sensible questions about severance and references , which made the conversation more constructive than I had anticipated . Afterwards I met the rest of the team to address concerns and to reassure them that we would manage workloads sensibly while recruiting for the revised roles . Although such moves inevitably affect morale in the short term , taking a pragmatic , humane approach helped preserve trust and maintain productivity .

Common Phrases

sack an employee sack a manager sack from a position

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