shrinkage

American  

[shring-kij] / ˈʃrɪŋ kɪdʒ /

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.

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shrinkage British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of shrinkage

First recorded in 1790–1800; shrink + -age

Example Sentences

"Once an expansion or shrinkage exceeds the elastic limits, it will lead to the particle cracking."

From Science Daily

The upshot is that officials eventually must decide when to resume purchases of securities to prevent further passive shrinkage of reserves.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are several causes for the yield shrinkage, one being the big share price increases in recent years that pushed yields lower.

From Barron's

"These materials tend to be porous, which significantly reduces their strength, and the parts suffer from excessive shrinkage, which causes warping," he says.

From Science Daily

His team at Glamos has monitored a record shrinkage of the glaciers over the past few years.

From BBC

Related Words

• contraction
• depreciation
• diminution
• reduction
• shrinking