retrenchment

[ ri-trench-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of retrenching; a cutting down or off, as by the reduction of expenses.
2. Fortification. an interior work that cuts off a part of a fortification from the rest, and to which a garrison may retreat.

Other Words From

• nonre·trenchment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrenchment¹

From the French word retrenchement, dating back to 1590–1600. See retrench, -ment

Example Sentences

Most observers expect some retrenchment of that rally sooner or later.

From Fortune

The retrenchment comes two weeks after Sur La Table laid off 27 employees, a fifth of its corporate staff, without severance pay.

From Washington Post

Hayati, who previously reported for Malaysian daily Berita Harian and English newspaper New Straits Times, has lost work due to retrenchment and is struggling to maintain her livelihood as a freelancer.

From Fortune

This has led to layoffs, waning of capital investment and a broad industry retrenchment.

From Washington Post

The retrenchment could help to erase debt and free up money to invest in their core businesses.

From Digiday

The Washington Post, after a difficult four-year retrenchment, has tapped Boston Globe Editor Marty Baron to run the newsroom.

From The Daily Beast

The Obama era, so far, is all about repair and retrenchment.

From The Daily Beast

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the committee chairman, quickly denied that any sort of retrenchment was under way.

From The Daily Beast

One might think that this emotional isolationism would bring demands for military retrenchment.

From The Daily Beast

On some issues, such as Afghanistan, the Retrenchment Republicans sound like the left wing of the Democratic Party.

From The Daily Beast

But any sensible plan of retrenchment in their household expenses had never been evolved in her mind.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1897 a heavy cut in our appropriations made it necessary to consider every possible method of retrenchment.

From Project Gutenberg

The cry for 'retrenchment' was joined to the cry for reform.

From Project Gutenberg

Cobden's policy of peace and retrenchment, however, became more and more unpopular.

From Project Gutenberg

The Society has had its periods of stagnation and disappointment; at times its directors have felt driven to retrenchment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absence
• dearth
• inadequacy
• loss
• paucity
• poverty
• reduction
• scarcity
• shortage
• shortcoming
• shortfall