"Attrition" has Latin bits that literally mean "a rubbing away, or a wearing away." In English, we first used it to describe a kind of wearing away of the soul: attrition was (and still is) a feeling of guilt or sorrow for having sinned.

In a more literal sense, attrition is the injury or damage done by constant rubbing. In other words, it's the act or process of things wearing out or wearing away due to being rubbed a lot (or just used a lot).

From that literal sense of wearing things down, another figurative sense arose: attrition is the act or process of some group of people gradually becoming smaller or weaker over time as its members leave or die.

In particular, we often talk about a "war of attrition:" literally or figuratively, a situation where one side wins simply by wearing down the other side over time.

Part of speech:

Noun, the uncountable kind: "Some consider World War I a war of attrition;" "There's a high rate of attrition among employees at restaurants."

Other forms: 

None are common. If you need an adjective, you can use "attritional."

how to use it:

"Attrition" is a common word with a solemn, formal tone. 

When you want to compare some fight, competition, or conflict to a long, drawn-out war where each side is just trying to wear the other down, call it a war of attrition. That's how we most often use the word "attrition" these days.

You could also talk about attrition, or rates of attrition, in certain places, at certain events, or among certain groups of people, such as places of employment, annual festivals, or church congregations.

examples:

"Comcast had the option to go to court to continue the battle [against the government]. 'But entering into a war of attrition with your own regulator is almost never a good idea.'"
  — Meg James, paraphrasing and quoting Craig Moffett, L. A. Times, 23 April 2015

"I've interviewed my fair share of leading men, and I know how often that conversation turns into a war of attrition. Can I convince these famous, fortified actors to drop their walls before our time is up? Some of them are so skittish about introspection that it's a challenge to even earn their eye contact."
  — Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 21 November 2022

has this page helped you understand "attrition"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "attrition" without saying "erosion" or "weakening."

try it out:

One year at West Point, 51 freshmen played for the football team. By their senior year, only 8 of these players remained. Jeff Miller listed some reasons for this attrition: for some, their academic work was too demanding, and for others, they realized they didn't even want to keep attending a military academy. It also didn't help that the head coaches had changed.

With this in mind as an example, talk about another time when a group experienced attrition. (Your example can come from your own experience, or from news, history, or fiction.) What were some reasons for this attrition? 

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Recapitate the Headlines."

I'll give you some real but decapitated headlines, along with a selection of heads, and you try to reassemble them as they were originally published. (Or, feel free to play in "wrong answers only" mode, assembling the headlines in whatever way you find funniest.) You can check out some examples here.

Try these today:

    __________ being made to say 'good night' to fans for entire year
    __________ eating fish
    __________ trying Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge

    Idol finally free after
    Russian mum influencer breaks back
    U.S. Senate committee to vote Wednesday on bill to try to stop sharks from

To see the correct versions, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. One opposite of ATTRITION is

A. GROWTH.
B. BEAUTY.
C. DELICACY.

2. When Nate Chinen wrote that "through persistence and attrition, Winter Jazzfest has become New York City's signature jazz festival," he probably meant that this specific festival _____.

A. charges higher and higher fees each year
B. gradually put others like it out of business
C. inherently attracts both casual listeners and professional performers

Answers to the review questions: 1. A 2. B From the game: Idol finally free after being made to say 'good night' to fans for entire year U.S. Senate committee to vote Wednesday on bill to try to stop sharks from eating fish Russian mum influencer breaks back trying Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.