Attrition Meaning
/əˈtɹɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounGrinding down or wearing away by friction.
nounGrinding down or wearing away by friction., The wearing of teeth due to their grinding.
Sentence Examples
We're fighting a war of attrition.
The US can't fight long wars of attrition.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company reduced its workforce through natural ____ rather than layoffs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company's high ____ rate meant they were losing many workers.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Recent years have seen […] more and more blatant reversals of previous Supreme Court decisions in favor of the constitutional rights of minorities. These increasingly conservative decisions, and constant attrition of individuals' rights, have directly paralleled the alarming increase of convictions in our courts."
— 1990 December 16, Tom Sparks, “Universal Suffrage”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 22, page 4:
"But the rise of multiracialism is not all Kumbaya choruses and “postracial” identity. The N.A.A.C.P. criticized the census change, fearing that since so few in the black community are of fully African descent, mass attrition to a mixed-race option could threaten political clout and Federal financing."
— 2008 March 23, Peggy Orenstein, “Mixed Messenger”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Nov 2020:
"[…] He took her in his arms
And kissed her long and wetly,
Till, attritioned by her charms,
His will collapsed completely."
— 1989, Shashi Tharoor, The Great Indian Novel, New York: Arcade, Book 9, p. 189:
"[…] but the heart of the health services in New York will have to attrition out some 3,000 to 5,000 jobs."
— 1973, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education, Hearings, page 186:
"[…] expenses can be cut, by attritioning faculty vacancies […]"
— 1989, Herbert S. White, “The Future of Library and Information Science Education”, in Librarians and the Awakening from Innocence,, Boston: G.K. Hall, page 86:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company reduced its workforce through natural ____ rather than layoffs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company's high ____ rate meant they were losing many workers.