The term 'attrition' refers to a gradual reduction in the strength or number of something through a process of wearing down or weakening over time. In a general sense, it is often used to describe the gradual loss of personnel or resources within an organization, typically due to resignation, retirement, or other forms of voluntary departure rather than through layoffs. In a broader context, it can also refer to any diminishing effect on a process or system.
The word 'attrition' comes from the Latin word "attritio," which means "a rubbing against" or "a wearing down." It combines "ad-" (meaning "to") and "terere" (meaning "to rub" or "to wear"). The term evolved in English to describe the gradual process of diminishing or reducing something over time.