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attrition

0 antonyms and opposites of attrition, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A gradual wearing down or reduction, especially of staff or resources over time rather than through direct cuts.

How to use attrition

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

natural attrition a war of attrition staff attrition rate

Etymology

From Latin attritio, "a rubbing against," from atterere, "to wear down" — built from ad- ("towards") and terere ("to rub").

Full origin of attrition →

Frequently asked questions

What does “attrition” mean?

The word “attrition” means a gradual wearing down or reduction, especially of staff or resources over time rather than through direct cuts. In plain terms, a slow, steady wearing-down or thinning-out, often used for staff numbers or military losses over time.

How do you pronounce “attrition”?

“Attrition” is pronounced uh-TRIHSHN (/əˈtɹɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “attrition” in a sentence?

Here is “attrition” used in a sentence: “The department shrank through attrition rather than layoffs.”

What part of speech is “attrition”?

“Attrition” is a noun.

Where does the word “attrition” come from?

The word “attrition” comes from Latin. From Latin attritio, "a rubbing against," from atterere, "to wear down" — built from ad- ("towards") and terere ("to rub").

Is “attrition” a common word?

“Attrition” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “attrition” have?

“Attrition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gradual wearing down or reduction, especially of staff or resources over time rather than through direct cuts.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.