at·tri·tion 
/əˈtrɪʃən/ noun
/əˈtrɪʃən/ noun [noncount] formal 1 chiefly US : a reduction in the number of employees or participants that occurs when people leave because they resign, retire, etc., and are not replaced
▪ The staff has been thinned through attrition. [=the staff has become smaller because people have left] ▪ Attrition is high among social workers because of the difficult work and poor pay. ▪ a growing attrition rate = a growing rate of attrition —called also (Brit) natural wastage 2 : the act or process of weakening and gradually defeating an enemy through constant attacks and continued pressure over a long period of time — used especially in the phrase war of attrition ▪ They can only gain victory by fighting a long war of attrition.
▪ The staff has been thinned through attrition. [=the staff has become smaller because people have left] ▪ Attrition is high among social workers because of the difficult work and poor pay. ▪ a growing attrition rate = a growing rate of attrition —called also (Brit) natural wastage
