Pronunciation: [ɹɪtɹˈɛnt͡ʃ] (IPA) 
Retrench is a verb that means to reduce expenses or cut back on something. The spelling of retrench can be a bit tricky, as it does not necessarily follow common English spelling rules. The word starts with "r" and has a "t" sound. The "e" is pronounced as "eh" and forms a schwa sound. The "n" is pronounced as "en" and the final "ch" is pronounced as "tch." The phonetic transcription of retrench is /rɪˈtrɛntʃ/.
Retrench is a transitive verb that refers to the act of reducing or cutting back on something, typically with the aim of economizing or saving resources. It involves making adjustments or implementing measures in order to reduce expenditures or diminish the scale or scope of certain activities. The term is often used in the context of business or financial management, but can also be applied to personal or organizational situations.
In a business context, retrenchment may involve reducing the workforce or downsizing the company to boost profitability or cope with financial difficulties. It can also involve restructuring operations, streamlining processes, or eliminating non-essential expenses in order to achieve cost-cutting objectives. The goal of retrenchment is to enhance overall efficiency and reduce wasteful practices within an organization, while still maintaining essential functions and preserving long-term sustainability.
On a personal level, retrenchment can refer to an individual's efforts to cut back on spending, conserve resources, or adapt to financial constraints. This could entail making lifestyle adjustments, such as downsizing homes, reducing discretionary spending, or seeking alternative sources of income.
In summary, retrench is the deliberate action of reducing or trimming down, be it in business or personal circumstances, in order to save money, minimize costs, improve efficiency, or adapt to changing circumstances by making necessary adjustments or sacrifices.
To pare away; to tender less or smaller; to abridge; to diminish expenses.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "retrench" originated from the Old French word "retrenchier", which was derived from the Middle French word "trenchier". "Trenchier" meant "to cut", and it came from the Vulgar Latin word "trinicare", meaning "to cut off". The term "retrench" initially carried the literal sense of cutting or severing, especially in relation to food, but over time, its usage expanded to include the idea of cutting back or reducing more generally.
