attrition

noun

at·tri·tion ə-ˈtri-shən How to pronounce attrition (audio)

[Middle English attricioun, from Medieval Latin, attrition-, attritio, from Latin] : sorrow for one's sins that arises from a motive other than that of the love of God

: the act of rubbing together : friction

also : the act of wearing or grinding down by friction

Stones can be smoothed and polished by attrition.

: the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack

a war of attrition

: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death

a company with a high rate of attrition

attritional

ə-ˈtri-sh(ə-)nᵊl How to pronounce attrition (audio)

adjective

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Word History of Attrition

The earliest meaning of the English attrition related to spiritual repentance was borrowed from the figurative meaning of the medieval Latin etymon attritio: "hardship, tribulation." This figurative meaning stemmed from the earlier uses of attritio that refer to bruising or wearing away by rubbing—two processes that, when applied to the body, can feel like tribulation. One obsolete and early use of the English attrition referred to the breaking or crushing of tissue, and was used in medical contexts.

The newer senses of attrition are little more than a century old. The common phrase war of attrition refers to a sustained effort to steadily wear down the defenses of an opponent, with the result that they are rendered weaker and less effective. From this sense comes the still-later meaning that refers to a reduction in numbers by a gradual and natural "wearing down" of an organization's ranks through death, retirement, or resignation.

Example Sentences

His first response was a plan to streamline management, reducing the company's white-collar ranks through attrition. An old-school CEO who had been with Stanley most of his adult life, Davis considered layoffs a last resort. But by the time he stepped down as CEO in 1987, hundreds of factory workers had lost their jobs on his orders.

James Lardner, New York Review of Books, 14 June 2007 Younger operatives are resigning in droves, because they have given up hope of reform. The attrition was sufficient to provoke an investigation by the inspector general in 1996.

Edward G. Shirley, Atlantic, February 1998 This had led the British to look upon these sieges as an opportunity to deplete the German army by the gradual process of attrition. Because by 1917, they had so many cannon and such immense supplies of ammunition, they believed that their attacks could inflict more manpower losses than they themselves would suffer.

Archer Jones, Elements of Military Strategy, 1996 Attrition is high among social workers because of the difficult work and poor pay. took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking

Recent Examples on the Web The central bank has also initiated a program to withdraw stimulus by shrinking its $8.9 trillion asset portfolio through attrition; the Fed is passively reducing its holdings as those securities mature.

Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 15 June 2022 MassCEC did end up scaling back programming and staffing, albeit through attrition, to stay within its funding levels.

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Fire departments is increasing as fire department staff is being depleted through attrition and not being replenished.

Laura Johnston, cleveland, 12 May 2022 When people leave of their own volition, the company will gladly accept the attrition and won’t replace those who’ve left.

Jack Kelly, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Consider that attrition, and the fact that the Red Sox had somehow lost all eight series against American League East opponents this season before the Yankees came to town.

New York Times, 10 July 2022 That being said, as others found ways to ruin their days, Johnson and De Silvestro kept their noses clean and survived the attrition.

Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 6 July 2022 Nieves attributed the high attrition to the grinding nature of the labor.

Greg Jaffe, Washington Post, 12 June 2022 Bad managers can make others at work miserable and cause attrition.

Cassie Werber, Quartz, 9 June 2022 See More

单词	attrition
释义	attrition noun at·tri·tion ə-ˈtri-shən a- 1 [Middle English attricioun, from Medieval Latin, attrition-, attritio, from Latin] : sorrow for one's sins that arises from a motive other than that of the love of God 2 : the act of rubbing together : friction also : the act of wearing or grinding down by friction Stones can be smoothed and polished by attrition. 3 : the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack a war of attrition 4 : a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death a company with a high rate of attrition attritional ə-ˈtri-sh(ə-)nᵊl a- adjective Did you know? Word History of Attrition The earliest meaning of the English attrition related to spiritual repentance was borrowed from the figurative meaning of the medieval Latin etymon attritio: "hardship, tribulation." This figurative meaning stemmed from the earlier uses of attritio that refer to bruising or wearing away by rubbing—two processes that, when applied to the body, can feel like tribulation. One obsolete and early use of the English attrition referred to the breaking or crushing of tissue, and was used in medical contexts. The newer senses of attrition are little more than a century old. The common phrase war of attrition refers to a sustained effort to steadily wear down the defenses of an opponent, with the result that they are rendered weaker and less effective. From this sense comes the still-later meaning that refers to a reduction in numbers by a gradual and natural "wearing down" of an organization's ranks through death, retirement, or resignation. Synonyms corrosion erosion undermining waste See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences His first response was a plan to streamline management, reducing the company's white-collar ranks through attrition. An old-school CEO who had been with Stanley most of his adult life, Davis considered layoffs a last resort. But by the time he stepped down as CEO in 1987, hundreds of factory workers had lost their jobs on his orders. James Lardner, New York Review of Books, 14 June 2007 Younger operatives are resigning in droves, because they have given up hope of reform. The attrition was sufficient to provoke an investigation by the inspector general in 1996. Edward G. Shirley, Atlantic, February 1998 This had led the British to look upon these sieges as an opportunity to deplete the German army by the gradual process of attrition. Because by 1917, they had so many cannon and such immense supplies of ammunition, they believed that their attacks could inflict more manpower losses than they themselves would suffer. Archer Jones, Elements of Military Strategy, 1996 Attrition is high among social workers because of the difficult work and poor pay. took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking Recent Examples on the Web The central bank has also initiated a program to withdraw stimulus by shrinking its $8.9 trillion asset portfolio through attrition; the Fed is passively reducing its holdings as those securities mature. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 15 June 2022 MassCEC did end up scaling back programming and staffing, albeit through attrition, to stay within its funding levels. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Fire departments is increasing as fire department staff is being depleted through attrition and not being replenished. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 12 May 2022 When people leave of their own volition, the company will gladly accept the attrition and won’t replace those who’ve left. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Consider that attrition, and the fact that the Red Sox had somehow lost all eight series against American League East opponents this season before the Yankees came to town. New York Times, 10 July 2022 That being said, as others found ways to ruin their days, Johnson and De Silvestro kept their noses clean and survived the attrition. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 6 July 2022 Nieves attributed the high attrition to the grinding nature of the labor. Greg Jaffe, Washington Post, 12 June 2022 Bad managers can make others at work miserable and cause attrition. Cassie Werber, Quartz, 9 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin attrition-, attritio, from atterere to rub against, from ad- + terere to rub — more at throw entry 1 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Medical Definition attrition noun at·tri·tion ə-ˈtrish-ən : the act of rubbing together also : the act of wearing or grinding down by friction attrition of teeth attrition noun as in erosion a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance erosion corrosion decay disintegration dissolution breakdown decomposition undermining waste Antonyms & Near Antonyms buildup increase gain
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attrition

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

noun