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contraction

contraction

34 4.4
A process of becoming smaller in size or amount
  • noun
  • /kənˈtrækʃən/
translation icon : contracción
  • And in recessions, you have contraction across the board.
  • economic contraction
  • macroeconomic contraction
  • credit contraction

Thus, we saw both expansion and contraction of the franchise.

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Examples

  • Due to the contraction in available resources, we have to adjust our project plans.

  • Experts predict a noticeable contraction in global trade as economies respond to new tariffs.

  • Of course, there would be a huge contraction in the economy as those changes happen.

  • The contraction rate is too high.

  • This contraction is too big.

  • This individual suggests that the economy slide towards a contraction is looking normal.

  • Recent pressures from the global financial crisis and associated de-leveraging will likely see a contraction in the manufacturing sector.

  • Japan rebalanced the only way it could, with an even sharper contraction in economic growth.

  • Given its fragile export profile, Turkey's current account deficit can be forcibly narrowed only through economic contraction.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The rapid contraction of the company's workforce raised concerns about its future.

Synonyms

decrease
vscontraction
84 2.2

A drop in amount or number

is more about reduction that often includes being compressed
compression
vscontraction
42 4.0

Pressing something so it becomes smaller and denser

is not limited to mechanical pressing and can be any reduction
narrowing
vscontraction
8 4.1

Becoming thinner or more limited in range

is more general and covers all kinds of size or amount reduction
shrinking
vscontraction
7 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, or value

is broader and can mean both simple size loss and compressed change
shrinkage
vscontraction
5 5.1

A decrease in size, amount, or value

is used when the change also involves being pressed or compacted
diminution
vscontraction
5 7.9

A decrease in size, amount, or importance

is slightly wider, also covering physical compression not only decline
lessening
vscontraction
4 3.8

A decrease in amount, size, or strength

is used for reductions that can be physical compression too
shortening
vscontraction
4 3.5

Making something shorter in length, time or size

is broader and includes density change, not only shorter length
compaction
vscontraction
1 6.5

Making soil or material denser by pressing it together

is wider, covering non mechanical size reductions as well
condensing
vscontraction
1 4.9

Making something smaller or more compact by reducing its volume

is broader and can mean reduction without increasing density
minification
vscontraction
7.4

Making something smaller in size so it fits into a small space

is more general, also including being pressed or made denser
tapering
vscontraction
6.5

A slow reduction in size or amount done in stages

is not necessarily gradual and can be sudden or immediate

Antonyms

241 3.3

An increase in size, amount, or range

Compounds

muscle contraction
  • Specialized
3 3.4

A muscle that becomes shorter or tighter and causes movement and tension

uterine contraction
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A strong tightening of the womb muscles that helps push a baby out during labor

muscular contraction
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A short tightening of a muscle that makes it shorten or stiffen

A heartbeat that comes early so it feels like a skipped beat

5.1

A painless short tightening of the womb during pregnancy that does not mean labor

How Reduced

disappearance
65 3.7
collapse
350 4.1
contraction
34 4.4
reduction
451 3.2
diminution
5 7.9

Surface Forms

contraction singular
contractions plural

Morphology

contraction = contract (transparent) = contract + ion

The noun is directly formed from the verb 'contract' with the productive noun-forming suffix '-ion', so its meaning is readily predictable.

Etymology

Contraction comes from Latin parts con- 'together' and trahere 'to pull'. You can see the same root in tractor, a machine that pulls, so think of something being 'pulled together' into a smaller size.