Terminate means ending  the employment relationship (to fire, dismiss, or let go). Employees may be dismissed with or without cause. Without cause means there is no specific reason for the termination. An employer is typically free to terminate an employee without cause so long as they provide sufficient notice, known as “Compensation for Length of Service” in employment standards law.   Terminating with cause means the employee has done something seriously incompatible with the continuation of the employment relationship such as stealing or dishonesty.  This conduct is referred to as culpable misconduct.