How to pronounce retrenchment
Say it like ruh-TRENCH-munt. Retrenchment has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRENCH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retrenchment. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ruh
- TRENCH
- munt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retrenchment pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TRENCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- muntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of retrenchment
American and British speakers say retrenchment in essentially the same way: /rəˈtrɛntʃmənt/ in the US and /rɪˈtrɛntʃmənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TRENCH-munt.
What does retrenchment mean?
- A curtailment or reduction.
- An act of reducing expenses; economizing.
- An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff.
- A defensive work constructed within a fortification to make it more defensible by allowing defenders to retreat into and fight from it even after the enemy has taken the outer work.
- The adoption of a defensive and hostile posture; refusal to compromise, radicalization.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with retrenchment
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retrenchment.
Questions about saying retrenchment
How do you pronounce retrenchment?
Say ruh-TRENCH-munt. The American pronunciation is /rəˈtrɛntʃmənt/. In British English it is /rɪˈtrɛntʃmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retrenchment?
Retrenchment has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRENCH). Broken into parts: ruh · TRENCH · munt.
Do Americans and Brits say retrenchment the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rəˈtrɛntʃmənt/ and the British form is /rɪˈtrɛntʃmənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.