attrition

[ uh-trish-uhn ]

noun

1. a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength:

   Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.

2. a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment:

   The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.

3. a gradual reduction in workforce without firing or layoff of personnel, as when workers resign or retire and are not replaced.
4. the act of rubbing against something; friction.
5. a wearing down or away by friction; abrasion.
6. Theology. imperfect contrition. contrition2

attrition

/ əˈtraɪtɪv; əˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction
2. constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition )
3. Also callednatural wastage a decrease in the size of the workforce of an organization achieved by not replacing employees who retire or resign
4. geography the grinding down of rock particles by friction during transportation by water, wind, or ice Compare abrasion corrasion
5. theol sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, esp as contrasted with contrition, which arises purely from love of God

Derived Forms

• atˈtritional, adjective
• attritive, adjective

Other Words From

• at·tri·tion·al adjective
• at·tri·tive [uh, -, trahy, -tiv], adjective
• in·ter·at·tri·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attrition¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin attrītiōn- (stem of attrītiō ) “friction”; attrite, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of attrition¹

C14: from Late Latin attrītiō a rubbing against something, from Latin atterere to weaken, from terere to rub

Example Sentences

Still, as the attrition rose, Scotland prospered, despite being a man down.

From BBC

Even if not numerically significant, any infusion of manpower can count at a time when both sides are suffering attrition and scrambling to find recruits.

From Los Angeles Times

It's really a matter of attrition, as you might say, over the next few years until we finally push these regimes into some sort of shape or replace them.

From Salon

They are now bogged down in the mud in what has become a battle of attrition.

From Salon

Kaiser countered that its current attrition was under 10% and “well below the industry average.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• erosion