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attrition

[əˈtɹɪʃən]
Meanings
  • noun

    The gradual reduction in the number of people, members, or things due to death, resignation, retirement, or other causes.

    - "The attrition rate in the military is high due to the rigorous training and long hours."
    - "The attrition of customers from the company increased after the introduction of a new competitor."
    - "The attrition of talent from the industry is a major concern for many organizations."
  • noun

    A wearing away or gradual reduction by continuous contact.

    - "The attrition of the riverbank by the constant flow of water."
    - "The attrition of the gears in a machine can cause it to malfunction."
    - "The attrition of the road surface by traffic can lead to potholes."
Antonyms

accretion
Synonyms

natural wastage , attrit
Rhymes
Words rhyming with attrition
attention , detention , relation , devotion , emotion
Variants
List of all variants of attrition that leads to same result
attrition , attritional , attritions
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin attritus, past participle of attrire, to rub, wear away.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. Attrition was a key military strategy used during the American Civil War.

  2. The term 'attrition' comes from the Latin word for 'rub' or 'wear away'.

  3. The attrition rate in the military is often used as a measure of a unit's effectiveness.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Churn Rate: The rate at which customers or subscribers leave a business or service over a given period of time.

  2. Mortality Rate: The number of deaths in a population during a specified period of time.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. 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,{it}Elements of Military Strategy{/it},1996

  2. 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,{it}New York Review of Books{/it},14 June 2007

  3. 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,{it}Atlantic{/it},February 1998
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Attrition has been used in various contexts, including military strategy, economics, and natural phenomena. In military strategy, attrition refers to the gradual reduction of enemy forces through casualties, exhaustion, or desertion. In economics, it refers to the gradual reduction in the number of customers or employees over time. In natural phenomena, it refers to the wearing away of surfaces by continuous contact.

How to Memorize "attrition"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a river eroding the bank over time due to the constant flow of water.
    - Visualize a military battlefield where both sides are gradually wearing each other down.
    - Imagine a business losing customers over time due to poor service or competition.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word with the image of a worn-down road surface.
    - Associate the word with the image of soldiers marching in a battlefield.
    - Associate the word with the image of a business losing customers.

  3. mnemonics

    - Attrition: A Tired Tension Involves Casualties.
    - Attrition: An Army Trained In Tactics Is Never Over.
    - Attrition: A Terrible Toll Involves Numerous Tears.

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