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 Word Forms

• nonretrenchment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrenchment¹

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

Example Sentences

The Twitter layoffs was among the earliest in a series of retrenchments among tech firms to cut costs.

From BBC

The move furthers Allen’s retrenchment after a $1-billion buying spree in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

“They’re not wrong to be afraid. I think they’re wrong to be as afraid as they are because it’s a retrenchment, and it’s a retrenchment following a gigantic expansion.”

From Los Angeles Times

In a significant retrenchment, media mogul Byron Allen has retained investment banking firm Moelis & Co. to sell his network-affiliate television stations after spending more than $1 billion to scoop up outlets in smaller markets.

From Los Angeles Times

The industry hasn’t fully recovered from shutdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes and a retrenchment by legacy entertainment companies, many of which overspent to build streaming services to compete with Netflix.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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