Crossword Genius

Detectives lost out (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dismissed

'out' is the definition.

'detectives lost' is the wordplay.
'detectives' becomes 'dis' (Detective Inspectors, DIs).
'lost' becomes 'missed' ().
'dis'+'missed'='DISMISSED'

(Other definitions for dismissed that I've seen before include "Brushed off or sacked" , "Fired" , "Spurned" , "put out of court" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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