attrition definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

Nearby Entries

attrition - 7 dictionary results

at⋅tri⋅tion

[uh-trish-uh

Use attrition in a Sentence

–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, esp. as a result of continuous pressure or harassment: The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.

3.	a gradual reduction in work force without firing 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. See under contrition (def. 2).

Origin:
1325–75; ME < L attrītiōn- (s. of attrītiō) friction. See attrite, -ion

Related forms:

at⋅tri⋅tion⋅al, adjective

at⋅tri⋅tive [uh-trahy-tiv]

, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To attrition

at·tri·tion (ə-trĭsh'ən)

A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.
A gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress.
A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.

[Middle English attricioun, regret, breaking, from Old French attrition, abrasion, from Late Latin attrītiō, attrītiōn-, act of rubbing against, from Latin attrītus, past participle of atterere, to rub against : ad-, against; see ad- + terere, to rub; see terə-¹ in Indo-European roots.]
at·tri'tion·al adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Attrition

At*tri"tion\, n. [L. attritio: cf. F. attrition.]

1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion.

Effected by attrition of the inward stomach. --Arbuthnot.

2. The state of being worn. --Johnson.

3. (Theol.) Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition. --Wallis.

attrition

1543, "abrasion, a scraping," from L. attritionem (nom. attritio), lit. "a rubbing against," noun of action from attritus pp. of atterere "to wear, rub away," from ad- "to" + terere "to rub." The earliest sense in Eng. is from Scholastic theology (c.1374), "sorrow for sin merely out of fear of punishment," a minor irritation, and thus less than contrition. The sense of "wearing down an enemy's strength" is a World War I coinage (1914). Attrit (v.) was a 1956 U.S. Air Force back-formation, which attained currency during the Vietnam War. (A 17c. attempt at a verb produced attrite).

Attrition

The reduction in staff and employees in a company through normal means, such as retirement and resignation. This is natural in any business and industry.

Investopedia Commentary

This type of reduction in staff is one way a company can decrease labor costs: the company simply waits for its employees to leave and freezes hiring. Such a method contrasts the more severe labor-reduction techniques, such as mass layoffs. Waiting for attrition is usually better for company morale.

Main Entry: at·tri·tion
Pronunciation: &-'trish-&n
Function: noun
: the act of rubbing together; also : the act ofwearing or grinding down by friction <attrition of teeth> —at·tri·tion·al /-'trish-n&l, -'trish-&n-^&l/ adjective

attrition at·tri·tion (ə-trĭsh'ən)
n.
A wearing away by friction or rubbing, such as the loss of tooth structure caused by abrasive foods or grinding of the teeth.

Search another word or see attrition on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us