C1 noun Formal

attrition

/əˈtrɪʃ.ən/

Attrition refers to the gradual reduction of a workforce, a group of people, or the strength of something through sustained pressure or the natural process of not replacing those who leave. It describes a process of wearing down or weakening an opponent or a resource over a period of time.

Exemplos

3 de 5
1

The gym saw a steady attrition of members who signed up in January but stopped coming by March.

The fitness center experienced a gradual loss of members over several months.

2

The committee addressed the attrition of civil liberties during the prolonged state of emergency.

The group discussed the gradual erosion of individual rights during the crisis.

3

I've had a bit of a social attrition lately; most of my college friends have moved to different cities.

My social circle has slowly shrunk because my friends have relocated.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
attrition
Advérbio
attritionally
Adjetivo
attritional
Relacionado
detrition
💡

Dica de memorização

Think of 'At-Friction.' Constant friction wears things down slowly. Attrition is the 'wearing down' of a group.

Quiz rápido

The general realized he could not win a quick victory, so he prepared for a long war of ______ to exhaust the enemy's supplies.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: attrition

Exemplos

1

The gym saw a steady attrition of members who signed up in January but stopped coming by March.

everyday

The fitness center experienced a gradual loss of members over several months.

2

The committee addressed the attrition of civil liberties during the prolonged state of emergency.

formal

The group discussed the gradual erosion of individual rights during the crisis.

3

I've had a bit of a social attrition lately; most of my college friends have moved to different cities.

informal

My social circle has slowly shrunk because my friends have relocated.

4

High student attrition in STEM subjects remains a significant challenge for modern universities.

academic

The high rate of students dropping out of science and math courses is a major academic concern.

5

The company decided to reduce its workforce through natural attrition rather than forced redundancies.

business

The business chose to cut staff by not hiring replacements for people who quit or retired.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
attrition
Advérbio
attritionally
Adjetivo
attritional
Relacionado
detrition

Colocações comuns

attrition rate the percentage of people leaving a group over time
staff attrition the loss of employees within a company
war of attrition a conflict focused on wearing down the enemy's strength
natural attrition reduction of a workforce through retirement and resignation
high attrition a significant or rapid loss of personnel or resources

Frases Comuns

war of attrition

a struggle where each side tries to wear out the other

through attrition

by means of gradual reduction

attrition of the soul

a poetic way to describe the wearing down of one's spirit

Frequentemente confundido com

attrition vs contrition

Contrition is the feeling of remorse or guilt, while attrition is the process of wearing down or reducing numbers.

attrition vs turnover

Turnover usually includes both people leaving and being replaced, whereas attrition often implies the roles are left vacant.

📝

Notas de uso

Attrition is most commonly used in business (HR) to describe staff leaving and in military history to describe long, grinding battles. It almost always implies a slow, gradual process rather than a sudden event.

⚠️

Erros comuns

Learners often use 'attrition' when they mean 'layoffs.' Layoffs are intentional cuts by the employer, while attrition usually refers to employees leaving on their own and not being replaced.

💡

Dica de memorização

Think of 'At-Friction.' Constant friction wears things down slowly. Attrition is the 'wearing down' of a group.

📖

Origem da palavra

From the Latin 'attritio', meaning 'a rubbing against' or 'grinding down.'

Padrões gramaticais

uncountable noun often followed by the preposition 'of' frequently used in the compound 'attrition rate'
🌍

Contexto cultural

In modern corporate culture, 'natural attrition' is often viewed as a more humane or less controversial way to reduce costs than firing employees.

Quiz rápido

The general realized he could not win a quick victory, so he prepared for a long war of ______ to exhaust the enemy's supplies.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: attrition

Palavras relacionadas

cause

A1

To make something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant. It is used to describe the action that results in a specific effect or situation.

through

A1

Used to describe moving from one side of an opening, area, or object to the other side. It can also refer to the period of time from the beginning to the end of an event.

effective

A2

Something is effective when it successfully produces the intended or desired result. It describes a person, method, or thing that works well and achieves its goal.

epic

A1

A long book, poem, or movie that tells a story about heroes and great events. It usually covers a long period of time and many adventures.

robotics

B2

The branch of technology and engineering that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots. It is a multidisciplinary field combining computer science, electronics, and mechanical engineering to create autonomous or semi-autonomous machines.

dean

B2

A dean is a high-ranking official at a university or college who oversees a specific department, faculty, or administrative area. They are responsible for academic leadership, managing faculty members, and ensuring the general welfare of students within their division.

decade

B2

A period of ten years, typically used to measure time or categorize a specific historical era. It is a common unit of time used to track social, economic, or personal changes over a significant duration.

enable

B2

To provide someone with the means, authority, or opportunity to do something. It also means to make a process or a system possible or operational.

mature

B2

Describing someone who behaves in a sensible, responsible way like an adult, or something that has reached a state of full development. It is often used to describe people, plants, or economic markets that are no longer growing rapidly but are stable.

scheme

B2

A systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting an idea into effect. It can also refer to a secretive or devious plot to achieve a goal, often used to describe government programs or organizational systems.

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