shrinkage

[ shring-kij ]

noun

1. the act or fact of shrinking.
2. the amount or degree of shrinking.
3. reduction or depreciation in quantity, value, etc.
4. contraction of a fabric in finishing or washing.
5. the difference between the original weight of livestock and that after it has been prepared for marketing.
6. Commerce. loss of merchandise through breakage, pilferage, shoplifting, etc.

shrinkage

/ ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or fact of shrinking
2. the amount by which anything decreases in size, value, weight, etc
3. the loss in body weight during shipment and preparation of livestock for marketing as meat
4. the loss of merchandise in a retail store through theft or damage

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrinkage¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; shrink + -age

Example Sentences

Widespread dissatisfaction and shrinkage in the ranks of the middle class has long been linked with political instability.

From Time

Zinna explains this helps prevent shrinkage and shape loss, but can also lead to additional dye transfer.

From Popular-Science

They may affect body shrinkage even more than steady warming does.

From Science News For Students

The brilliant thing about this method is that it helps prevent shrinkage — something that seems to always afflict my tart crusts, even if I’m careful to chill the dough and to resist stretching it.

From Washington Post

“Our starting point is an assumption that the shrinkage in the economy post-pandemic is mostly informal and hence the loss in output across sectors gives us a measure of the informal sector,” it said.

From Quartz

You lose connectivity between portions of your brain, and some regions even experience shrinkage, according to Williams.

From The Daily Beast

The ill effects of hypernatremia are primarily caused by cell shrinkage and damage in the brain.

From The Daily Beast

“In general, gray matter shrinkage may have no impact,” says Dr. Nicole Prause of University of California, Los Angeles.

From The Daily Beast

True, much of that shrinkage can be traced to individuals bringing income forward to avoid higher tax rates in 2013.

From The Daily Beast

As for their carrot, not the stuff of legend, with or without shrinkage.

From The Daily Beast

A similar shrinkage has been displayed in the case of the protesting Alsace-Lorrainers, who returned only two deputies in 1907.

From Project Gutenberg

Customs receipts are larger than ever before, and there is no shrinkage at the clearing house.

From Project Gutenberg

Such shrinkage is usually the result of insufficient blanching, or poor packing or both.

From Project Gutenberg

Rugose: Short irregular folds, due to shrinkage of surface growth.

From Project Gutenberg

On account of the absence of oil, the shrinkage of French spun worsted is considerably less than that made by the Bradford system.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contraction
• depreciation
• diminution
• reduction
• shrinking