Attrition

Pronunciation

• IPA: əˈtɹɪʃən
• Rhymes: -ɪʃən

Origin

From Latin attritio ("a rubbing against"), from the verb attritus, past participle of atterere ("to wear"), from ad- ("to, towards") + terere ("to rub").

Full definition of attrition

Noun

1. wearing or grinding down by friction
2. the gradual reduction in a tangible or intangible resource due to causes that are passive and do not involve productive use of the resource.
3. (human resources) A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death
4. (sciences) The loss of participants during an experiment
5. (theology) Imperfect contrition or remorse
6. (dentistry) The wearing of teeth due to their grinding

Synonyms

• (employment reduction by natural causes) natural wastage

Antonyms

• accretion

Derived terms

• attrit
• attritional
• attritionary
• attritive
• attrition damage

Related terms

• contrition

Anagrams

• titration