retrench
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to cut down, reduce, or diminish; curtail (expenses).
-
to cut off or remove.
-
Military. to protect by a retrenchment.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to reduce or curtail (costs); economize
-
(tr) to shorten, delete, or abridge
-
(tr) to protect by a retrenchment
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of retrench
1600–10; < French retrencher (obsolete variant of retrancher ), Middle French retrenchier, equivalent to re- re- + trenchier to trench
Explanation
When times are tight, it's time to retrench. That means rethink your budget, cut back on the spending, and use your pennies wisely. Usually when you have to retrench, it's not a good thing. Companies in the process of retrenching are usually laying off staff or cutting back on employee benefits. But even if you're making gobs of money and your bank account is full of cash, it might be wise to save for a rainy day — that way you won't have to retrench when the going gets tough.
Vocabulary lists containing retrench
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Purple Hibiscus
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Employed and driving increasingly fuel-efficient cars, consumers didn’t retrench much in the face of last quarter’s inflation and high gas prices.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
He added that, unlike in 2010, Democrats likely won’t be able to retrench themselves following big wins, because 2026 does not precede a redistricting year.
From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2026
CVS Chief Executive David Joyner said in an interview that the Oak Street business needs to retrench, after coming under pressure from higher medical costs and regulatory changes in the Medicare business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025
"If consumers retrench... the entire economy is going to go down with it," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2025
I shall retrench, let the other parts of my house, which now stand empty without being of use to me, and retain only this little saloon and the adjoining rooms.
From The Pictures; The Betrothing Novels by Thirlwall, Connop
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
