shrinkage

noun

shrink·​age ˈshriŋ-kij How to pronounce shrinkage (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsriŋ-
1
: the act or process of shrinking
2
a
: the loss in weight of livestock during shipment and in the process of preparing the meat for consumption
b
: the loss of goods especially by theft
inventory shrinkage
3
: the amount lost by shrinkage

Examples of shrinkage in a Sentence

The shrinkage in contributions is significant. a shrinkage of 10 percent the shrinkage of the polar ice caps
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is not all the shrinkage The Voice will undergo next fall. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2025 An indication of the stand’s age came via the sizeable gaps that had opened up in the floorboards, most likely due to the shrinkage of old timbers over time. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025 Other than April 2020, last month’s job losses represent the most substantial shrinkage since 2009, when companies across the U.S. announced plans to terminate 132,590 roles. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 6 May 2025 Pandemic-era delays, a surge in tourism after the pandemic and government shrinkage under Trump have all been blamed for the lengthy interview wait periods. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrinkage

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrinkage was in 1800

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Cite this Entry

“Shrinkage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrinkage. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

shrinkage

noun
shrink·​age ˈshriŋ-kij How to pronounce shrinkage (audio)
: the amount by which something shrinks or becomes less

More from Merriam-Webster on shrinkage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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