noun

retrenchment

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Retrenchment (noun) means a cut or reduction in something.

noun

A cut or reduction in something.

"It agrees that redundant services should not be continued but is not unmindful of the fact that too much retrenchment of rail services now may ultimately prove detrimental to the economy of the country." — , Notes and News: Redundant Branches and Stations (1955)

"And the retrenchment of services such as mental health and drug rehabilitation means that vulnerable people are more likely to find themselves on the street." — , The Observer view on the budget and the decade of austerity (2018)

The act of spending less money to save costs.

The dismissal of a worker, usually to cut costs.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

Probably partly from both of the following: * Middle French retrenchement, retranchement (“removal of a portion from a larger whole; reduction of expenses”) (modern French retranchement (“deduction, subtraction”)), from retrancher, retranchier (“to get rid of, remove completely; to remove a portion from a larger whole; to reduce expenses; to deprive (oneself) of”) [and other forms] + -ment (suffix forming nouns usually of an action or a state resulting from an action). Retrancher and retranchier are derived from Old French re- (prefix meaning ‘again, once more’) + tranchier, trenchier (“to cut”) [and other forms] (modern French trancher (“to slice”)); the further etymology is uncertain, but one possibility is that the Old French words are from Latin truncāre, the present active infinitive of truncō (“to mutilate by cutting off pieces; to truncate”), from truncus (“tree trunk; piece cut off”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- (“to carve; to cut off, trim”). * retrench (“to cut down, reduce; to reduce expenses; to make (an employee) redundant”) + -ment. Retrench is derived from Middle French retrancher, retranchier: see above.

Synonyms

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curtailment downsizing

Antonyms

expansion extension enlargement

Related words

development increase growth growing reference extent wing expansion

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of retrenchment?

"retrenchment" (noun) means a cut or reduction in something.

What is another word for retrenchment?

Other words for "retrenchment" include curtailment, downsizing.

What is the opposite of retrenchment?

Opposites of "retrenchment" include expansion, extension, enlargement.

What are the different meanings of retrenchment?

"retrenchment" has 3 main meanings: 1. A cut or reduction in something; 2. The act of spending less money to save costs; 3. The dismissal of a worker, usually to cut costs.

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