retrenchment
UK: rɪˈtrentʃmənt | US: rɪˈtrentʃmənt
n. the act of reducing costs or spending in response to economic difficulty
n. (military) a defensive strategy of retreating to a stronger position
n. (archaic) the act of cutting back or restricting something
The word "retrenchment" originates from the French retrencher (to cut back), combining "re-" (again) and "trench" (from Old French trenchier, meaning "to cut"). The term initially referred to literal cutting (e.g., fortifications) but evolved metaphorically to describe financial or strategic reductions. The suffix "-ment" nominalizes the action, reflecting its modern usage in economics and military contexts.
The company announced retrenchment measures to survive the recession.
During the war, the general ordered a retrenchment to consolidate defenses.
Critics opposed the retrenchment of social welfare programs.
Historical retrenchments often involved digging secondary trenches.
Personal retrenchment helped her save money during the crisis.