dismiss vs lay off

dismiss and lay off both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
dismiss	No	No	Yes	No
lay off	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, lay off is a hyponym of dismiss; that is, lay off is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than dismiss:

Other hyponyms of dismiss include retire, pension off, clean out, furlough, squeeze out, dismiss, drop, send away, send packing.

dismiss (verb)	lay off (verb)
declare void	dismiss, usually for economic reasons
bar from attention or consideration	put an end to a state or an activity
end one's encounter with somebody by causing or permitting the person to leave
cease to consider; put out of judicial consideration
terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
stop associating with