shrinkage

/ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ/

/ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ/

Other forms: shrinkages

When something becomes smaller than it was before, that's shrinkage. You can see shrinkage in action when you accidentally put your favorite wool sweater in the dryer!

The process of shrinking, or the amount that something has shrunk, is shrinkage. You might notice the shrinkage of your hand-knit socks when you try to put them on your feet, or read about the shrinkage of the polar ice caps in school. Another meaning of this word is "loss of inventory due to theft or shoplifting." A store's shrinkage rate sometimes improves after they install security cameras.

Definitions of shrinkage

1. noun

   the process or result of becoming less or smaller
   “the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage”

   synonyms: shrinking

   types:

   compression, condensation, contraction

   the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

   coarctation, constriction

   tight or narrow compression

   type of:

   decrease, drop-off, lessening

   a change downward
2. noun

   the amount by which something shrinks
   type of:

   decrease, decrement

   the amount by which something decreases
3. noun

   the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store
   synonyms: shoplifting

   type of:

   larceny, stealing, theft, thievery, thieving

   the act of taking something from someone unlawfully