shrinkage

[ shring-kij ]

noun

1. the act or fact of shrinking.
2. the amount or degree of shrinking.
3. reduction or depreciation in quantity, value, etc.
4. contraction of a fabric in finishing or washing.
5. the difference between the original weight of livestock and that after it has been prepared for marketing.
6. Commerce. loss of merchandise through breakage, pilferage, shoplifting, etc.

shrinkage

/ ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or fact of shrinking
2. the amount by which anything decreases in size, value, weight, etc
3. the loss in body weight during shipment and preparation of livestock for marketing as meat
4. the loss of merchandise in a retail store through theft or damage

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrinkage¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; shrink + -age

Example Sentences

However you want to describe what’s going on in the Hollywood economy right now, there are potentially brutal long-term consequences of the entertainment industry’s shrinkage.

From Los Angeles Times

As they disclosed in a federal lawsuit this month, their real goal is to farm pregnant teenagers and their unwanted babies to keep up their population numbers, in order to avoid shrinkage in their congressional delegations and lose federal dollars from programs based on population.

From Los Angeles Times

The bill comes amid growing concerns about “shrinkage” — defined as missing inventory from theft and broken items, per USA Today.

From Salon

Split-thickness grafts that contain mostly epidermis with only some of dermis can be used to cover larger areas, but they do not include features like hair and sweat glands, and are more prone to shrinkage and scarring.

From Science Daily

So it’s not like the shrinkage of the docket has freed up time.

From Slate

Related Words

• contraction
• depreciation
• diminution
• reduction
• shrinking