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- DictionaryAt·tri·tion/əˈtriSHən/
noun
- 1. the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure: "the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition"
- 2. (in scholastic theology) sorrow, but not contrition, for sin.
Add to word list. formal. gradually making something weaker and destroying it, especially the strength or confidence of an enemy by repeatedly attacking it: Terrorist groups and the government have been engaged in a costly war of attrition since 2008.
Attrition is a gradual process of wearing down, weakening, or destroying something. When a company wants to reduce its payroll without firing anyone, it will sometimes do so through attrition; that is, by waiting for people to retire or quit without hiring anyone new to replace them.
May 4, 2024 · ( sciences) The loss of participants during an experiment. ( theology) Imperfect contrition or remorse. ( dentistry) The wearing of teeth due to their grinding. ( linguistics) The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language. Synonyms [ edit] (employment reduction by natural causes): natural wastage. Antonyms [ edit]
2 days ago · Attrition is a process in which you steadily reduce the strength of an enemy by continually attacking them. [formal] The rebels have declared a cease-fire in their war of attrition against the government. Synonyms: wearing down, harrying, weakening, harassment More Synonyms of attrition. 2. uncountable noun.
Definition of attrition noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
1. the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction. 2. constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition) 3. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) Also called: natural wastage a decrease in the size of the workforce of an organization achieved by not replacing employees who retire or resign. 4.
noun. /əˈtrɪʃn/. [uncountable] (formal) a process of making someone or something, especially your enemy, weaker by repeatedly attacking them or creating problems for them It was a war of attrition. These were the economics not of efficiency but of attrition. Definitions on the go.
