attrition

CEFRC2

/əˈtɹɪʃən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A gradual reduction in numbers caused by people leaving or being lost.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A gradual reduction in number.

Examples

  • The US can't fight long wars of attrition.

  • We're fighting a war of attrition.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Grinding down or wearing away by friction.

  2. The wearing of teeth due to their grinding.

  3. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through injury, incapacitation, retirement, resignation, or death.

More examples

In context

  • The cohort of one hundred students had attritioned to sixty by the end of secondary school.

  • attritioned teeth; attritioned rock

  • […] but the heart of the health services in New York will have to attrition out some 3,000 to 5,000 jobs.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The company reduced its workforce through natural blank rather than layoffs.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

15th century, from Middle English attricion, attricioun, from Middle French attricion, attrition and its etymon, Latin attrītiō (“a rubbing against”), from the verb attrītus, past participle of atterō (“to wear”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + terō (“to rub”). By surface analysis, attrit + -ion.