Attrition

Today let's learn a new word, attrition! [Transcript: Hi and welcome to Let’s Word Up! Each day we post a word of the day to help you improve your English language skills. Today’s word of the day is attrition. Nouns are words that we use to name things. It can be a person, a place, a thing, an idea or concept. Therefore, attrition is a noun. Attrition has three meanings. Firstly it is the process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through constant attack or pressure. Secondly it is the gradual reduction of a workforce due to employees leaving and not being replaced, as opposed to redundancy. Lastly it is wearing away using friction or abrasion. An example of the word attrition used in a sentence would be: Her strategy was to use attrition to wear down their spirit and reduce their effectiveness. The company slowly dissolved using attrition because the owners didn't want to claim redundancy. Or, Attrition from the rain had worn away most of the detail of the marble sculpture. Synonyms: weakening, harassment, harrying, abrasion, corrosion. Antonyms: improvement, buildup, accretion, growth, rejuvenation. Thank you for listening, we hope that you found it helpful and interesting. Until next time.]