diminution

noun

dim·​i·​nu·​tion ˌdi-mə-ˈnü-shən 

 also  -ˈnyü-

: the act, process, or an instance of becoming gradually less (as in size or importance) : the act, process, or an instance of diminishing : decrease

a diminution in value

Did you know?

We find written evidence for diminution going back to the 14th century, including use in Geoffrey Chaucer's Middle English poetical work Troilus and Criseyde. Chaucer used "maken dyminucion" ("make diminution") in contrast to the verb "encrece" ("increase"). Diminution came to English by way of Anglo-French from Latin. Its Latin ancestor deminuere ("to diminish") is also an ancestor of the English verb diminish, which entered the language in the 15th century, and the related diminishment, a synonym of diminution that English speakers have been using since the 16th century.

Synonyms

• abatement
• decline
• decrease
• decrement
• dent
• depletion
• depression
• diminishment
• drop
• drop-off
• fall
• falloff
• loss
• reduction
• shrinkage
• step-down

Examples of diminution in a Sentence

a diminution of 60 percent over the course of the month

Recent Examples on the Web

The next morning, everyone makes big talk about history and legend-making; the feeling of diminution lingers. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

The loss, recorded on Monday, stands as the largest single-day diminution for a U.S. company, following challenges linked to the DeepSeek incident. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Jan. 2025

The diminution of Black Monday underscores the possibility – perhaps likelihood – that more coaching changes are coming down the pike. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025

Moscow, for its part, has already formed a quasi alliance with Beijing to expedite the diminution of Washington’s influence. —Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-French diminutiun, from Medieval Latin diminution-, diminutio, alteration of Latin deminution-, deminutio, from deminuere "to lessen" — more at diminish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diminution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• dissolution
• distribution
• elocution

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Kids Definition

diminution

noun

dim·​i·​nu·​tion ˌdim-ə-ˈn(y)ü-shən 

: the act, process, or an instance of diminishing : decrease

Legal Definition

diminution

noun

dim·​i·​nu·​tion ˌdi-mə-ˈnü-shən, -ˈnyü- 

: the act, process, or an instance of making less

diminution of access to health care

—U.S. Code