What does "attrition" mean?
Grinding down or wearing away by friction.
Attrition
/əˈtɹɪʃən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Grinding down or wearing away by friction.
- Grammar: attrition is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abrasion, grinding, abatement, abience.
- Useful contrasts: accretion, accumulation, decisive battle.
- Usage evidence: At this point, it's just a war of attrition. Only those who are patient can survive.
How to use "attrition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "attrition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "attrition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "attrition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "attrition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "attrition" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abrasion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "attrition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Grinding down or wearing away by friction. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction wordnet
- 3 Grinding down or wearing away by friction.; The wearing of teeth due to their grinding. countable, uncountable
- 4 a wearing down to weaken or destroy wordnet
- 5 A gradual reduction in number. countable, uncountable
"Recent years have seen […] more and more blatant reversals of previous Supreme Court decisions in favor of the constitutional rights of minorities. These increasingly conservative decisions, and constant attrition of individuals' rights, have directly paralleled the alarming increase of convictions in our courts."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation wordnet
- 7 A gradual reduction in number.; A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through injury, incapacitation, retirement, resignation, or death. countable, uncountable
- 8 the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice wordnet
- 9 A gradual reduction in number.; The loss of participants during an experiment. countable, uncountable
- 10 erosion by friction wordnet
- 11 A gradual reduction in number.; The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language. countable, uncountable
- 12 Imperfect contrition or remorse. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To grind or wear down through friction. transitive
"attritioned teeth; attritioned rock"
- 2 To reduce the number of (jobs or workers) by not hiring new employees to fill positions that become vacant (often with out). transitive
"[…] but the heart of the health services in New York will have to attrition out some 3,000 to 5,000 jobs."
- 3 To undergo a reduction in number. intransitive
"The cohort of one hundred students had attritioned to sixty by the end of secondary school."
Antonyms
Example
"At this point, it's just a war of attrition. Only those who are patient can survive."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "attrition"?
Common synonyms include: abrasion, grinding, abatement, abience, ablation, abrasion.
How do you use "attrition" in a sentence?
At this point, it's just a war of attrition. Only those who are patient can survive.
How do you pronounce "attrition"?
Pronounced /əˈtɹɪʃən/.
Etymology
15th century, from Middle English attricion, attricioun, from Middle French attricion, attrition and its etymon, Latin attrītiō (“a rubbing against”), from the verb attrītus, past participle of atterō (“to wear”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + terō (“to rub”). By surface analysis, attrit + -ion.