# churn

/ˈtʃɝn/ (US) · /tʃˈɜːn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/churn
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

the rate at which customers stop using a service or subscribers cancel their memberships. It is a key number for businesses to track how well they keep their clients.

For teachers: the proportion of contractual customers or subscribers who leave a supplier during a given time period. Often used in subscription-based business models to measure retention efficiency.

## Examples

- The company is trying to reduce customer churn this quarter.
- High churn in the telecommunications industry often forces companies to offer aggressive discounts to attract new subscribers.
- While the startup reported record-breaking user acquisition, the high monthly churn suggested that the core product failed to provide long-term value to its target audience.

## Usage notes

- Often functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'churn rate' or 'customer churn'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.