attrition
Say it: uh-TRISH-un /əˈtrɪʃən/ · noun
What “attrition” means
People gradually leave, and nobody replaces them.
More precisely: The gradual loss of staff or customers as people leave and aren't replaced.
When to use it
At work, when staff or customer numbers gradually shrink through departures. For staffing, it often describes reductions without dismissing people.
Memory trick
Picture a row of chairs slowly emptying, with nobody arriving to fill the gaps.
Similar words
turnover, natural wastage, departures
Where it comes from
From Latin atterere, "to rub away."
Quick check
Several employees retire over the year, and the company leaves their jobs unfilled. Its workforce shrinks through…
redundancy or attrition?
Show the answer
attrition
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