shrinkage

[shring-kij] /ˈʃrɪŋ kɪdʒ/
noun
1.
the act or fact of shrinking.
2.
the amount or degree of shrinking.
3.
reduction or depreciation in quantity, value, etc.
4.
contraction of a fabric in finishing or washing.
5.
the difference between the original weight of livestock and that after it has been prepared for marketing.
6.
Commerce. loss of merchandise through breakage, pilferage, shoplifting, etc.
Origin
1790-1800; shrink + -age
Examples from the web for shrinkage
  • As the meringue cools, the air in the bubbles contracts and causes slight shrinkage.
  • Temporary tumor shrinkage through chemotherapy has never been shown to cure cancer or to extend life.
  • Among polyester's properties are that it holds its shape, is quick to dry and resists wrinkling and shrinkage.
  • There could two main reasons for the fast shrinkage, the team says.
  • At this strength it has been shown to cause considerable shrinkage of specimens.
  • They hold up well after multiple washings without shrinkage or color fade.
  • They have already been suffering from the shrinkage of market share, and now have to face this unequal policy.
  • Aging has the same effect, and the shrinkage may be linked to learning.
  • The suspected cause of all this shrinkage, of course, is warming temperatures.
  • The new study found that in mice with cancer, fasting prior to chemotherapy often led to more tumor shrinkage than chemo alone.
British Dictionary definitions for shrinkage

shrinkage

/ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ/
noun
1.
the act or fact of shrinking
2.
the amount by which anything decreases in size, value, weight, etc
3.
the loss in body weight during shipment and preparation of livestock for marketing as meat
4.
the loss of merchandise in a retail store through theft or damage
Word Origin and History for shrinkage
n.

1713, "act or fact of shrinking," from shrink (v.) + -age. Meaning "amount by which something has shrunk" is from 1862.