shrinkage
noun
shrink·age
ˈshriŋ-kij 
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
The loss of many units affiliated with the Latter-day Saints and conservative Christian churches was part of a broader shrinkage experienced by the Boy Scouts, which served more than 4 million boys in the 1970s.
—
Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Shea butter and hyaluronic acid join coconut and Kalahari melon oils to add a surge of strand-softening hydration, minimizing shrinkage in the process.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Not bench-him-now levels, but there has been some shrinkage.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, sizing up may offset any shrinkage due to washing, as is common with cotton T-shirts.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrinkage
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Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Shea butter and hyaluronic acid join coconut and Kalahari melon oils to add a surge of strand-softening hydration, minimizing shrinkage in the process.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Not bench-him-now levels, but there has been some shrinkage.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, sizing up may offset any shrinkage due to washing, as is common with cotton T-shirts.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrinkage
Cite this Entry
“Shrinkage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrinkage. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shrinkage
noun
shrink·age
ˈshriŋ-kij
: the amount by which something shrinks or becomes less
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