Attrition

Definitions

1. Grinding down or wearing away by friction.
   countable, uncountable
2. The wearing of teeth due to their grinding.
   countable, uncountable
3. A gradual reduction in number.
   countable, uncountable
4. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through injury, incapacitation, retirement, resignation, or death.
   countable, uncountable
5. The loss of participants during an experiment.
   countable, uncountable
6. The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language.
   countable, uncountable
7. Imperfect contrition or remorse.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level