attrition

From WikiWord, the free dictionary

[əˈtɹɪʃən] English

Definitions

noun

Wearing or grinding down by friction.
The gradual reduction in a tangible or intangible resource due to causes that are passive and do not involve productive use of the resource.
(human resources) A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
The loss of participants during an experiment.

verb

To grind or wear down through friction.“attritioned teeth; attritioned rock”
To reduce the number of (jobs or workers) by not hiring new employees to fill positions that become vacant (often with out).“As a result of the new policy, people were being attritioned out.”
To undergo a reduction in number.“The cohort of one hundred students had attritioned to sixty by the end of secondary school.”

Related words

Synonyms

natural wastage attrit abrasion detrition grinding contrition contriteness corrasion friction leakage seepage depuration depletion decline exhaustion fatigue decrease drop-out

Antonyms

Associated

yom verdun tooth suez warfare gradual tactic rate casualties decisive rates

Rhymes

disposition cognition ambition erudition admonition volition composition recognition juxtaposition apparition

References