attrition

American  

[uh-trish-uhn] / əˈtrɪʃ ən /

noun

1. a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength.

   Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.

2. a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment.

   The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.

3. a gradual reduction in workforce without firing or layoff of personnel, as when workers resign or retire and are not replaced.

4. the act of rubbing against something; friction.

5. a wearing down or away by friction; abrasion.

6. Theology. imperfect contrition. contrition2

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attrition British  

/ əˈtraɪtɪv, əˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction

2. constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition )

3. Also called: natural wastage.  a decrease in the size of the workforce of an organization achieved by not replacing employees who retire or resign

4. geography the grinding down of rock particles by friction during transportation by water, wind, or ice Compare abrasion corrasion

5. theol sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, esp as contrasted with contrition, which arises purely from love of God

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Other Word Forms

• attritional adjective
• attritive adjective
• interattrition noun

Etymology

Origin of attrition

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin attrītiōn- (stem of attrītiō ) “friction”; see attrite, -ion

Explanation

Attrition is a gradual process of wearing down, weakening, or destroying something. When a company wants to reduce its payroll without firing anyone, it will sometimes do so through attrition; that is, by waiting for people to retire or quit without hiring anyone new to replace them. In a more general sense, the word means break down, wear out, or reduce in numbers. A triple overtime basketball game, with many players fouling out, is a war of attrition. When you see the word attrition, think "Gradually chipping away."

Example Sentences

The decrease is attributable to attrition, he adds, noting the company will continue to drive that.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The shift toward infrastructure targets risks turning the conflict into a war of economic attrition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

That is one of the classic dangers of long wars of attrition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Yet the definitions that ultimately appeared in print did not always reflect the system Godlove had carefully devised; staff attrition, lost revisions and production pressures disrupted years of meticulous work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The department had an unprecedented need for new officers right now, apparently due to higher-than-usual rates of retirement and attrition.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• erosion