Attrition Definition
ə-trĭshən
noun
A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.
American Heritage
The act or process of wearing away or grinding down by friction.
Webster's New World
A gradual reduction in number or strength because of stress or military action.
American Heritage
Any gradual wearing or weakening, esp. to the point of exhaustion.
A siege is a battle of attrition.
Webster's New World
A gradual reduction in personnel or membership because of resignation, retirement, or death, often viewed in contrast to reduction from layoffs.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Attrition
Noun
Singular:
attrition
Plural:
attritionsOrigin of Attrition
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Middle English attricioun regret, breaking from Old French attrition abrasion from Late Latin attrītiō attrītiōn- act of rubbing against from Latin attrītus past participle of atterere to rub against ad- against ad– terere to rub terə-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Latin attritio (“a rubbing against”), from the verb attritus, past participle of atterere (“to wear”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + terere (“to rub”).
From Wiktionary
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