attrition
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.the process of reducing the number of employees by not replacing those who leave.
n.the reduction in the size of a workforce through natural wastage, such as retirement or resignation, rather than through redundancies.
Simple“The company is avoiding layoffs by relying on natural attrition as people retire.”
In context“Management opted for a policy of attrition, choosing not to fill vacancies created by departing staff to meet their budgetary targets.”
SynonymswastagedownsizingAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.the process of wearing something down by rubbing it against something else.
n.the process of wearing down or grinding away a surface through friction or repetitive contact.
Simple“The smooth stones on the beach were shaped by years of attrition from the waves.”
In context“Geological attrition occurs as pebbles are transported downstream, colliding with one another and gradually losing their sharp edges.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a way of winning a fight or war by slowly making the other side weaker until they give up.
n.a military or competitive strategy aimed at wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and materiel.
Simple“It became a war of attrition where both sides waited for the other to run out of supplies.”
In context“The conflict devolved into a brutal war of attrition, with neither side capable of a decisive breakthrough despite mounting casualties.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to reduce the number of workers by not hiring new people when someone leaves.
v.to reduce a workforce by failing to replace employees who leave their positions.
Simple“The department was attritioned down to half its original size over five years.”
In context“The administration decided to attrition out the remaining administrative roles rather than issuing formal termination notices.”
UsageOften used in the phrasal form 'attrition out'.
“I fear a battle of attrition between the two parties which will helps no one.”
“But they would face difficulty holding areas inside Lebanon or managing a war of attrition in populated environments.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.