What does "case dismissed" mean?

The term "case dismissed" is used by courts to end a legal action prior to completing the trial process, according to USLegal. This action may occur prior to the start of the trial or during the trial in response to a filed motion.

A case can be dismissed with prejudice, which means that the court bars the accusing party to re-file the suit or re-charge a defendant, according to USLegal. If a case is dismissed without prejudice, it may be brought before the court again. According to Nolo and USLegal, a case may be dismissed without prejudice due to procedural errors, while a judge may dismiss a case with prejudice if the merits are faulty.