attrite

Attrite means to make smaller, wear down, or be lost due to attrition—a weakening or reduction. It can also be an adjective meaning “worn down” or “having been gradually reduced.”

Attrite is far less common than its noun form, attrition, which can refer to a decrease in number; a gradual weakening; a wearing down by friction; or a reduction, as in a work force or similar group when people are lost for various reasons. Attrite is often used to refer to loss of employees or members of an organization.

Example: We predict that 12 employees will attrite in the next four months.

Attrite comes from the Latin word attrītus, meaning “rubbed against” or “worn away” and entered English in the 1600s. Its noun form, attrition, is actually older, having entered English around the 1400s.

To attrite can generally mean to “wear down,” as in The snacks in the pantry are attriting my willpower. More commonly, it is used as an administrative term in the context of an attrition rate—the rate of how many people leave a group, especially employees, students, or customers. In this context, to attrite typically means “to leave the group by resigning or dropping out” (not by getting fired or expelled). Another specialized usage comes from linguistics and the concept of language attrition—which usually refers to the loss of a person’s native language. When your language attrites, you can no longer speak it confidently or fluently.

What are some other forms of attrite?

• attrition (noun)

What are some synonyms for attrite?

• wear down
• wear out
• erode
• abrade

What are some words that share a root or word element with attrite?

• trite
• contrite 
• contrition

What are some words that often get used in discussing attrite?

• employee
• student
• customer
• rate

This relatively rare word is usually only found in fairly specialized circles, mainly linguistics, economics, business, education, and the military.

There needs to be a skill gap at the time of hiring to ensure organisation has an opportunity to add value in bridging the gap. 100% Fit candidate most likely to attrite fast.#TALEAGUE

— Hima Bindu (@HimaHires) May 30, 2018

“As a data scientist, I can predict what is likely to happen, but I cannot explain why it is going to happen. I can predict when someone is likely to attrite, or respond to a promotion, or commit fraud, or pick the pink button over the blue button, but I cannot tell you why"

— Bashòrun Ègbá (@omodekunrin) December 3, 2017

Age plays imp role for lg attrition: young bilinguals attrite strongly, L1 is resistant to change in older learners. #languageattritionessex

— Monika S. Schmid (@MonikaSSchmid) July 6, 2016

Is attrite used correctly in the following sentence?

“Our data shows that customers began to attrite after we raised prices.”