attrition

noun

at·​tri·​tion ə-ˈtri-shən 

a-

1

: sorrow for one's sins that arises from a motive other than that of the love of God

2

: the act of rubbing together : friction

also : the act of wearing or grinding down by friction

Stones can be smoothed and polished by attrition.

3

: the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack

a war of attrition

4

: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death

a company with a high rate of attrition

attritional

ə-ˈtri-sh(ə-)nəl 

a-

adjective

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Word History of Attrition

The earliest meaning of the English attrition related to spiritual repentance was borrowed from the figurative meaning of the medieval Latin etymon attritio: "hardship, tribulation." This figurative meaning stemmed from the earlier uses of attritio that refer to bruising or wearing away by rubbing—two processes that, when applied to the body, can feel like tribulation. One obsolete and early use of the English attrition referred to the breaking or crushing of tissue, and was used in medical contexts.

The newer senses of attrition are little more than a century old. The common phrase war of attrition refers to a sustained effort to steadily wear down the defenses of an opponent, with the result that they are rendered weaker and less effective. From this sense comes the still-later meaning that refers to a reduction in numbers by a gradual and natural "wearing down" of an organization's ranks through death, retirement, or resignation.

Synonyms

• corrosion
• erosion
• undermining
• waste

Examples of attrition in a Sentence

His first response was a plan to streamline management, reducing the company's white-collar ranks through attrition. An old-school CEO who had been with Stanley most of his adult life, Davis considered layoffs a last resort. But by the time he stepped down as CEO in 1987, hundreds of factory workers had lost their jobs on his orders. —James Lardner, New York Review of Books, 14 June 2007

Younger operatives are resigning in droves, because they have given up hope of reform. The attrition was sufficient to provoke an investigation by the inspector general in 1996. —Edward G. Shirley, Atlantic, February 1998

This had led the British to look upon these sieges as an opportunity to deplete the German army by the gradual process of attrition. Because by 1917, they had so many cannon and such immense supplies of ammunition, they believed that their attacks could inflict more manpower losses than they themselves would suffer. —Archer Jones, Elements of Military Strategy, 1996

Attrition is high among social workers because of the difficult work and poor pay.

took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking

Recent Examples on the Web

Given the importance of manpower in a war of attrition, the first battlefield employment of thousands of North Korean troops recently deployed to Russia marks another escalation in non-European involvement. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024

The match lasted two or three minutes, a relative war of attrition in conker terms. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024

But the organization remains capable of drawing the Israeli army into a ground war of attrition and sending thousands of Israelis into shelters every day. —Kim Ghattas, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2024

Chumbley says her revenue has tumbled 50% the past two years and her staff has shrunk from 14 employees to seven through layoffs or attrition. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin attrītiōn-, attrītiō "act of wearing away, diminishment," from Latin attrī-, variant stem of atterere "to rub (against), wear away, diminish, impair" (from at- at- + terere "to rub, grind, wear down") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action; (sense 1) Middle English attricioun "repentance falling short of contrition," borrowed from Medieval Latin attrītiōn-, attrītiō, going back to Latin — more at trite

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

attrition

noun

at·​tri·​tion ə-ˈtrish-ən 

a-

1

: the act of wearing down by or as if by friction

2

: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death

Medical Definition

attrition

noun

at·​tri·​tion ə-ˈtrish-ən 

: the act of rubbing together

also : the act of wearing or grinding down by friction

attrition of teeth

attritional

-ˈtrish-nəl, -ˈtrish-ən-ᵊl 

adjective