diff --git a/gallery/plot_custom_datapoints.py b/gallery/plot_custom_datapoints.py
index ea757283e86..0a62a991a75 100644
--- a/gallery/plot_custom_datapoints.py
+++ b/gallery/plot_custom_datapoints.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class MyDatapoint(datapoints.Datapoint):
 from torchvision.transforms.v2 import functional as F
 
 
-@F.register_kernel(dispatcher="hflip", datapoint_cls=MyDatapoint)
+@F.register_kernel(functional="hflip", datapoint_cls=MyDatapoint)
 def hflip_my_datapoint(my_dp, *args, **kwargs):
     print("Flipping!")
     out = my_dp.flip(-1)
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def hflip_my_datapoint(my_dp, *args, **kwargs):
 # .. note::
 #
 #     In our call to ``register_kernel`` above we used a string
-#     ``dispatcher="hflip"`` to refer to the functional we want to hook into. We
+#     ``functional="hflip"`` to refer to the functional we want to hook into. We
 #     could also have used the  functional *itself*, i.e.
-#     ``@register_kernel(dispatcher=F.hflip, ...)``.
+#     ``@register_kernel(functional=F.hflip, ...)``.
 #
 #     The functionals that you can be hooked into are the ones in
 #     ``torchvision.transforms.v2.functional`` and they are documented in
diff --git a/test/test_transforms_v2_refactored.py b/test/test_transforms_v2_refactored.py
index 1e78c5ed6c5..fa1ed05b84b 100644
--- a/test/test_transforms_v2_refactored.py
+++ b/test/test_transforms_v2_refactored.py
@@ -163,25 +163,25 @@ def check_kernel(
         _check_kernel_batched_vs_unbatched(kernel, input, *args, **kwargs, **_to_tolerances(check_batched_vs_unbatched))
 
 
-def _check_dispatcher_scripted_smoke(dispatcher, input, *args, **kwargs):
-    """Checks if the dispatcher can be scripted and the scripted version can be called without error."""
+def _check_functional_scripted_smoke(functional, input, *args, **kwargs):
+    """Checks if the functional can be scripted and the scripted version can be called without error."""
     if not isinstance(input, datapoints.Image):
         return
 
-    dispatcher_scripted = _script(dispatcher)
+    functional_scripted = _script(functional)
     with ignore_jit_no_profile_information_warning():
-        dispatcher_scripted(input.as_subclass(torch.Tensor), *args, **kwargs)
+        functional_scripted(input.as_subclass(torch.Tensor), *args, **kwargs)
 
 
-def check_dispatcher(dispatcher, input, *args, check_scripted_smoke=True, **kwargs):
+def check_functional(functional, input, *args, check_scripted_smoke=True, **kwargs):
     unknown_input = object()
     with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=re.escape(str(type(unknown_input)))):
-        dispatcher(unknown_input, *args, **kwargs)
+        functional(unknown_input, *args, **kwargs)
 
     with mock.patch("torch._C._log_api_usage_once", wraps=torch._C._log_api_usage_once) as spy:
-        output = dispatcher(input, *args, **kwargs)
+        output = functional(input, *args, **kwargs)
 
-        spy.assert_any_call(f"{dispatcher.__module__}.{dispatcher.__name__}")
+        spy.assert_any_call(f"{functional.__module__}.{functional.__name__}")
 
     assert isinstance(output, type(input))
 
@@ -189,41 +189,41 @@ def check_dispatcher(dispatcher, input, *args, check_scripted_smoke=True, **kwar
         assert output.format == input.format
 
     if check_scripted_smoke:
-        _check_dispatcher_scripted_smoke(dispatcher, input, *args, **kwargs)
+        _check_functional_scripted_smoke(functional, input, *args, **kwargs)
 
 
-def check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(dispatcher, *, kernel, input_type):
-    """Checks if the signature of the dispatcher matches the kernel signature."""
-    dispatcher_params = list(inspect.signature(dispatcher).parameters.values())[1:]
+def check_functional_kernel_signature_match(functional, *, kernel, input_type):
+    """Checks if the signature of the functional matches the kernel signature."""
+    functional_params = list(inspect.signature(functional).parameters.values())[1:]
     kernel_params = list(inspect.signature(kernel).parameters.values())[1:]
 
     if issubclass(input_type, datapoints.Datapoint):
-        # We filter out metadata that is implicitly passed to the dispatcher through the input datapoint, but has to be
+        # We filter out metadata that is implicitly passed to the functional through the input datapoint, but has to be
         # explicitly passed to the kernel.
         explicit_metadata = {
             datapoints.BoundingBoxes: {"format", "canvas_size"},
         }
         kernel_params = [param for param in kernel_params if param.name not in explicit_metadata.get(input_type, set())]
 
-    dispatcher_params = iter(dispatcher_params)
-    for dispatcher_param, kernel_param in zip(dispatcher_params, kernel_params):
+    functional_params = iter(functional_params)
+    for functional_param, kernel_param in zip(functional_params, kernel_params):
         try:
-            # In general, the dispatcher parameters are a superset of the kernel parameters. Thus, we filter out
-            # dispatcher parameters that have no kernel equivalent while keeping the order intact.
-            while dispatcher_param.name != kernel_param.name:
-                dispatcher_param = next(dispatcher_params)
+            # In general, the functional parameters are a superset of the kernel parameters. Thus, we filter out
+            # functional parameters that have no kernel equivalent while keeping the order intact.
+            while functional_param.name != kernel_param.name:
+                functional_param = next(functional_params)
         except StopIteration:
             raise AssertionError(
                 f"Parameter `{kernel_param.name}` of kernel `{kernel.__name__}` "
-                f"has no corresponding parameter on the dispatcher `{dispatcher.__name__}`."
+                f"has no corresponding parameter on the functional `{functional.__name__}`."
             ) from None
 
         if issubclass(input_type, PIL.Image.Image):
             # PIL kernels often have more correct annotations, since they are not limited by JIT. Thus, we don't check
             # them in the first place.
-            dispatcher_param._annotation = kernel_param._annotation = inspect.Parameter.empty
+            functional_param._annotation = kernel_param._annotation = inspect.Parameter.empty
 
-        assert dispatcher_param == kernel_param
+        assert functional_param == kernel_param
 
 
 def _check_transform_v1_compatibility(transform, input):
@@ -482,8 +482,8 @@ def test_kernel_video(self):
         "make_input",
         [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_bounding_box, make_segmentation_mask, make_video],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher(self, size, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(
+    def test_functional(self, size, make_input):
+        check_functional(
             F.resize,
             make_input(self.INPUT_SIZE),
             size=size,
@@ -502,8 +502,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, size, make_input):
             (F.resize_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.resize, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.resize, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("size", OUTPUT_SIZES)
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("device", cpu_and_cuda())
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ def test_pil_interpolation_compat_smoke(self, interpolation, make_input):
                 interpolation=interpolation,
             )
 
-    def test_dispatcher_pil_antialias_warning(self):
+    def test_functional_pil_antialias_warning(self):
         with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="Anti-alias option is always applied for PIL Image input"):
             F.resize(make_image_pil(self.INPUT_SIZE), size=self.OUTPUT_SIZES[0], antialias=False)
 
@@ -763,8 +763,8 @@ def test_kernel_video(self):
         "make_input",
         [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_bounding_box, make_segmentation_mask, make_video],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.horizontal_flip, make_input())
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.horizontal_flip, make_input())
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -777,8 +777,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.horizontal_flip_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.horizontal_flip, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.horizontal_flip, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "make_input",
@@ -939,8 +939,8 @@ def test_kernel_video(self):
         "make_input",
         [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_bounding_box, make_segmentation_mask, make_video],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.affine, make_input(), **self._MINIMAL_AFFINE_KWARGS)
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.affine, make_input(), **self._MINIMAL_AFFINE_KWARGS)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -953,8 +953,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.affine_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.affine, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.affine, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "make_input",
@@ -1228,8 +1228,8 @@ def test_kernel_video(self):
         "make_input",
         [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_bounding_box, make_segmentation_mask, make_video],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.vertical_flip, make_input())
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.vertical_flip, make_input())
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -1242,8 +1242,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.vertical_flip_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.vertical_flip, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.vertical_flip, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "make_input",
@@ -1378,8 +1378,8 @@ def test_kernel_video(self):
         "make_input",
         [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_bounding_box, make_segmentation_mask, make_video],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.rotate, make_input(), **self._MINIMAL_AFFINE_KWARGS)
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.rotate, make_input(), **self._MINIMAL_AFFINE_KWARGS)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -1392,8 +1392,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.rotate_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.rotate, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.rotate, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "make_input",
@@ -1643,8 +1643,8 @@ def test_kernel(self, kernel, make_input, input_dtype, output_dtype, device, sca
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("output_dtype", [torch.float32, torch.float64, torch.uint8])
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("device", cpu_and_cuda())
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("scale", (True, False))
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input, input_dtype, output_dtype, device, scale):
-        check_dispatcher(
+    def test_functional(self, make_input, input_dtype, output_dtype, device, scale):
+        check_functional(
             F.to_dtype,
             make_input(dtype=input_dtype, device=device),
             dtype=output_dtype,
@@ -1810,8 +1810,8 @@ def test_kernel(self, kernel, make_input, dtype, device):
         check_kernel(kernel, make_input(dtype=dtype, device=device), brightness_factor=self._DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_FACTOR)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("make_input", [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_video])
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.adjust_brightness, make_input(), brightness_factor=self._DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_FACTOR)
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.adjust_brightness, make_input(), brightness_factor=self._DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_FACTOR)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -1822,8 +1822,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.adjust_brightness_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.adjust_brightness, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.adjust_brightness, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("brightness_factor", _CORRECTNESS_BRIGHTNESS_FACTORS)
     def test_image_correctness(self, brightness_factor):
@@ -2042,7 +2042,7 @@ def test_get_num_frames(self, kernel, make_input):
         assert kernel(input) == F.get_num_frames(input) == num_frames
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        ("dispatcher", "make_input"),
+        ("functional", "make_input"),
         [
             (F.get_dimensions, make_bounding_box),
             (F.get_dimensions, make_detection_mask),
@@ -2057,22 +2057,22 @@ def test_get_num_frames(self, kernel, make_input):
             (F.get_num_frames, make_segmentation_mask),
         ],
     )
-    def test_unsupported_types(self, dispatcher, make_input):
+    def test_unsupported_types(self, functional, make_input):
         input = make_input()
 
         with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=re.escape(str(type(input)))):
-            dispatcher(input)
+            functional(input)
 
 
 class TestRegisterKernel:
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize("dispatcher", (F.resize, "resize"))
-    def test_register_kernel(self, dispatcher):
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("functional", (F.resize, "resize"))
+    def test_register_kernel(self, functional):
         class CustomDatapoint(datapoints.Datapoint):
             pass
 
         kernel_was_called = False
 
-        @F.register_kernel(dispatcher, CustomDatapoint)
+        @F.register_kernel(functional, CustomDatapoint)
         def new_resize(dp, *args, **kwargs):
             nonlocal kernel_was_called
             kernel_was_called = True
@@ -2090,10 +2090,10 @@ def new_resize(dp, *args, **kwargs):
         t(datapoints.Image(torch.rand(3, 10, 10))).shape == (3, 224, 224)
 
     def test_errors(self):
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Could not find dispatcher with name"):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Could not find functional with name"):
             F.register_kernel("bad_name", datapoints.Image)
 
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Kernels can only be registered on dispatchers"):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Kernels can only be registered on functionals"):
             F.register_kernel(datapoints.Image, F.resize)
 
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Kernels can only be registered for subclasses"):
@@ -2115,7 +2115,7 @@ def resize_custom_datapoint():
 
 
 class TestGetKernel:
-    # We are using F.resize as dispatcher and the kernels below as proxy. Any other dispatcher / kernels combination
+    # We are using F.resize as functional and the kernels below as proxy. Any other functional / kernels combination
     # would also be fine
     KERNELS = {
         torch.Tensor: F.resize_image_tensor,
@@ -2139,7 +2139,7 @@ class MyPILImage(PIL.Image.Image):
 
     def test_exact_match(self):
         # We cannot use F.resize together with self.KERNELS mapping here directly here, since this is only the
-        # ideal wrapping. Practically, we have an intermediate wrapper layer. Thus, we create a new resize dispatcher
+        # ideal wrapping. Practically, we have an intermediate wrapper layer. Thus, we create a new resize functional
         # here, register the kernels without wrapper, and check the exact matching afterwards.
         def resize_with_pure_kernels():
             pass
@@ -2151,7 +2151,7 @@ def resize_with_pure_kernels():
 
     def test_builtin_datapoint_subclass(self):
         # We cannot use F.resize together with self.KERNELS mapping here directly here, since this is only the
-        # ideal wrapping. Practically, we have an intermediate wrapper layer. Thus, we create a new resize dispatcher
+        # ideal wrapping. Practically, we have an intermediate wrapper layer. Thus, we create a new resize functional
         # here, register the kernels without wrapper, and check if subclasses of our builtin datapoints get dispatched
         # to the kernel of the corresponding superclass
         def resize_with_pure_kernels():
@@ -2217,8 +2217,8 @@ def test_kernel(self, kernel, make_input, dtype, device):
         check_kernel(kernel, make_input(dtype=dtype, device=device), permutation=self._DEFAULT_PERMUTATION)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("make_input", [make_image_tensor, make_image_pil, make_image, make_video])
-    def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
-        check_dispatcher(F.permute_channels, make_input(), permutation=self._DEFAULT_PERMUTATION)
+    def test_functional(self, make_input):
+        check_functional(F.permute_channels, make_input(), permutation=self._DEFAULT_PERMUTATION)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("kernel", "input_type"),
@@ -2229,8 +2229,8 @@ def test_dispatcher(self, make_input):
             (F.permute_channels_video, datapoints.Video),
         ],
     )
-    def test_dispatcher_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
-        check_dispatcher_kernel_signature_match(F.permute_channels, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
+    def test_functional_signature(self, kernel, input_type):
+        check_functional_kernel_signature_match(F.permute_channels, kernel=kernel, input_type=input_type)
 
     def reference_image_correctness(self, image, permutation):
         channel_images = image.split(1, dim=-3)
diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_augment.py b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_augment.py
index 9be7a40e8ca..844e0321e0c 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_augment.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_augment.py
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ def __init__(
 
         self._log_ratio = torch.log(torch.tensor(self.ratio))
 
-    def _call_kernel(self, dispatcher: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def _call_kernel(self, functional: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         if isinstance(inpt, (datapoints.BoundingBoxes, datapoints.Mask)):
             warnings.warn(
                 f"{type(self).__name__}() is currently passing through inputs of type "
                 f"datapoints.{type(inpt).__name__}. This will likely change in the future."
             )
-        return super()._call_kernel(dispatcher, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
+        return super()._call_kernel(functional, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _get_params(self, flat_inputs: List[Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         img_c, img_h, img_w = query_chw(flat_inputs)
diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_geometry.py b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_geometry.py
index b209140614e..b28fad6eabc 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_geometry.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_geometry.py
@@ -358,13 +358,13 @@ def __init__(self, size: Union[int, Sequence[int]]) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self.size = _setup_size(size, error_msg="Please provide only two dimensions (h, w) for size.")
 
-    def _call_kernel(self, dispatcher: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def _call_kernel(self, functional: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         if isinstance(inpt, (datapoints.BoundingBoxes, datapoints.Mask)):
             warnings.warn(
                 f"{type(self).__name__}() is currently passing through inputs of type "
                 f"datapoints.{type(inpt).__name__}. This will likely change in the future."
             )
-        return super()._call_kernel(dispatcher, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
+        return super()._call_kernel(functional, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _transform(self, inpt: Any, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
         return self._call_kernel(F.five_crop, inpt, self.size)
@@ -405,13 +405,13 @@ def __init__(self, size: Union[int, Sequence[int]], vertical_flip: bool = False)
         self.size = _setup_size(size, error_msg="Please provide only two dimensions (h, w) for size.")
         self.vertical_flip = vertical_flip
 
-    def _call_kernel(self, dispatcher: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def _call_kernel(self, functional: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         if isinstance(inpt, (datapoints.BoundingBoxes, datapoints.Mask)):
             warnings.warn(
                 f"{type(self).__name__}() is currently passing through inputs of type "
                 f"datapoints.{type(inpt).__name__}. This will likely change in the future."
             )
-        return super()._call_kernel(dispatcher, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
+        return super()._call_kernel(functional, inpt, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _check_inputs(self, flat_inputs: List[Any]) -> None:
         if has_any(flat_inputs, datapoints.BoundingBoxes, datapoints.Mask):
diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_transform.py b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_transform.py
index 5a310ddbd4c..d4ee8af556d 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/v2/_transform.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/v2/_transform.py
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ def _check_inputs(self, flat_inputs: List[Any]) -> None:
     def _get_params(self, flat_inputs: List[Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         return dict()
 
-    def _call_kernel(self, dispatcher: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
-        kernel = _get_kernel(dispatcher, type(inpt), allow_passthrough=True)
+    def _call_kernel(self, functional: Callable, inpt: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        kernel = _get_kernel(functional, type(inpt), allow_passthrough=True)
         return kernel(inpt, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _transform(self, inpt: Any, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_meta.py b/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_meta.py
index 82891b8cc8b..aed1133020f 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_meta.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_meta.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def convert_format_bounding_boxes(
     new_format: Optional[BoundingBoxFormat] = None,
     inplace: bool = False,
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
-    # This being a kernel / dispatcher hybrid, we need an option to pass `old_format` explicitly for simple tensor
+    # This being a kernel / functional hybrid, we need an option to pass `old_format` explicitly for simple tensor
     # inputs as well as extract it from `datapoints.BoundingBoxes` inputs. However, putting a default value on
     # `old_format` means we also need to put one on `new_format` to have syntactically correct Python. Here we mimic the
     # default error that would be thrown if `new_format` had no default value.
diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_utils.py b/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_utils.py
index d9609a52e1e..95145beee4d 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_utils.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/v2/functional/_utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def is_simple_tensor(inpt: Any) -> bool:
     return isinstance(inpt, torch.Tensor) and not isinstance(inpt, datapoints.Datapoint)
 
 
-# {dispatcher: {input_type: type_specific_kernel}}
+# {functional: {input_type: type_specific_kernel}}
 _KERNEL_REGISTRY: Dict[Callable, Dict[Type, Callable]] = {}
 
 
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ def wrapper(inpt, *args, **kwargs):
     return wrapper
 
 
-def _register_kernel_internal(dispatcher, input_type, *, datapoint_wrapper=True):
-    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.setdefault(dispatcher, {})
+def _register_kernel_internal(functional, input_type, *, datapoint_wrapper=True):
+    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.setdefault(functional, {})
     if input_type in registry:
-        raise ValueError(f"Dispatcher {dispatcher} already has a kernel registered for type {input_type}.")
+        raise ValueError(f"Functional {functional} already has a kernel registered for type {input_type}.")
 
     def decorator(kernel):
         registry[input_type] = (
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ def decorator(kernel):
     return decorator
 
 
-def _name_to_dispatcher(name):
+def _name_to_functional(name):
     import torchvision.transforms.v2.functional  # noqa
 
     try:
         return getattr(torchvision.transforms.v2.functional, name)
     except AttributeError:
         raise ValueError(
-            f"Could not find dispatcher with name '{name}' in torchvision.transforms.v2.functional."
+            f"Could not find functional with name '{name}' in torchvision.transforms.v2.functional."
         ) from None
 
 
@@ -59,21 +59,21 @@ def _name_to_dispatcher(name):
 }
 
 
-def register_kernel(dispatcher, datapoint_cls):
-    """Decorate a kernel to register it for a dispatcher and a (custom) datapoint type.
+def register_kernel(functional, datapoint_cls):
+    """Decorate a kernel to register it for a functional and a (custom) datapoint type.
 
     See :ref:`sphx_glr_auto_examples_plot_custom_datapoints.py` for usage
     details.
     """
-    if isinstance(dispatcher, str):
-        dispatcher = _name_to_dispatcher(name=dispatcher)
+    if isinstance(functional, str):
+        functional = _name_to_functional(name=functional)
     elif not (
-        callable(dispatcher)
-        and getattr(dispatcher, "__module__", "").startswith("torchvision.transforms.v2.functional")
+        callable(functional)
+        and getattr(functional, "__module__", "").startswith("torchvision.transforms.v2.functional")
     ):
         raise ValueError(
-            f"Kernels can only be registered on dispatchers from the torchvision.transforms.v2.functional namespace, "
-            f"but got {dispatcher}."
+            f"Kernels can only be registered on functionals from the torchvision.transforms.v2.functional namespace, "
+            f"but got {functional}."
         )
 
     if not (isinstance(datapoint_cls, type) and issubclass(datapoint_cls, datapoints.Datapoint)):
@@ -85,13 +85,13 @@ def register_kernel(dispatcher, datapoint_cls):
     if datapoint_cls in _BUILTIN_DATAPOINT_TYPES:
         raise ValueError(f"Kernels cannot be registered for the builtin datapoint classes, but got {datapoint_cls}")
 
-    return _register_kernel_internal(dispatcher, datapoint_cls, datapoint_wrapper=False)
+    return _register_kernel_internal(functional, datapoint_cls, datapoint_wrapper=False)
 
 
-def _get_kernel(dispatcher, input_type, *, allow_passthrough=False):
-    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.get(dispatcher)
+def _get_kernel(functional, input_type, *, allow_passthrough=False):
+    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.get(functional)
     if not registry:
-        raise ValueError(f"No kernel registered for dispatcher {dispatcher.__name__}.")
+        raise ValueError(f"No kernel registered for functional {functional.__name__}.")
 
     # In case we have an exact type match, we take a shortcut.
     if input_type in registry:
@@ -113,17 +113,17 @@ def _get_kernel(dispatcher, input_type, *, allow_passthrough=False):
         return lambda inpt, *args, **kwargs: inpt
 
     raise TypeError(
-        f"Dispatcher F.{dispatcher.__name__} supports inputs of type {registry.keys()}, "
+        f"Functional F.{functional.__name__} supports inputs of type {registry.keys()}, "
         f"but got {input_type} instead."
     )
 
 
 # This basically replicates _register_kernel_internal, but with a specialized wrapper for five_crop / ten_crop
-# We could get rid of this by letting _register_kernel_internal take arbitrary dispatchers rather than wrap_kernel: bool
-def _register_five_ten_crop_kernel_internal(dispatcher, input_type):
-    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.setdefault(dispatcher, {})
+# We could get rid of this by letting _register_kernel_internal take arbitrary functionals rather than wrap_kernel: bool
+def _register_five_ten_crop_kernel_internal(functional, input_type):
+    registry = _KERNEL_REGISTRY.setdefault(functional, {})
     if input_type in registry:
-        raise TypeError(f"Dispatcher '{dispatcher}' already has a kernel registered for type '{input_type}'.")
+        raise TypeError(f"Functional '{functional}' already has a kernel registered for type '{input_type}'.")
 
     def wrap(kernel):
         @functools.wraps(kernel)