Retrenchment1. (n.) The act or process of retrenching; as, the retrenchment of words in a writing.
2. (n.) A work constructed within another, to prolong the defense of the position when the enemy has gained possession of the outer work; or to protect the defenders till they can retreat or obtain terms for a capitulation.
Thesaurus Entries
abbreviation, abridgment, abstract, apocope, arrest, arrestation, attrition, check, cheeseparing, compression, condensation, conspectus, constraint, control, cooling, cooling down, cooling off, curb, curtailment, cut, cutback, cutting, deceleration, decrease, decrement, depletion, depreciation, derogation, detraction, diminution, dip, disparagement, economization, economizing, elision, ellipsis, epitome, extraction, foreshortening, hindrance, impairment, inhibition, injunction, interdict, legal restraint, lessening, low growth rate, monopoly, precis, prohibition, protection, protectionism, protective tariff, pullback, rationing, recap, recapitulation, reduction, reduction of expenses, reduction of spending, rein, remission, restraint, restraint of trade, retardation, retraction, rollback, saving, scraping, scrimping, self-control, shortening, shrinkage, skimping, slowdown, slowing down, sparing, summary, summation, syncope, synopsis, tariff wall, telescoping, thought control, truncation