mitigation

C1 Topic:Cause, Change & Process

US /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ UK /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ See IPA manual

Freq #47762

Meanings

1

noun
the action of reducing the severity, harm, or painfulness of something

Flood barriers formed one part of the city's climate-risk mitigation plan.
2

noun
a fact or circumstance that makes an offense less serious or may justify a lighter penalty

The judge considered his cooperation with investigators in mitigation of the sentence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the action of reducing the... reduction alleviation moderation relief

2 noun · a fact or circumstance that... extenuation palliationpartial excuse

Opposites

aggravation intensification exacerbation

Word family

Derived forms mitigatemitigativemitigator

Related forms adaptation preventionremediation

Etymology

From Middle French mitigation and Latin mitigatio, 'a softening or calming,' from mitigare, 'to make mild or gentle.' Its legal use preserves the idea of softening the force of blame or punishment.

Topics

Cause, Change & Process

External links

# mitigation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/
**Frequency rank:** 47762

## Meanings
1. the action of reducing the severity, harm, or painfulness of something
2. a fact or circumstance that makes an offense less serious or may justify a lighter penalty

## Examples
- Flood barriers formed one part of the city's climate-risk mitigation plan.
- The judge considered his cooperation with investigators in mitigation of the sentence.

## Synonyms
- reduction
- alleviation
- moderation
- relief
- extenuation

## Antonyms
- aggravation
- intensification
- exacerbation

## Derived Forms
- mitigate
- mitigative
- mitigator

## Related Forms
- adaptation
- prevention
- remediation

## Etymology
From Middle French mitigation and Latin mitigatio, 'a softening or calming,' from mitigare, 'to make mild or gentle.' Its legal use preserves the idea of softening the force of blame or punishment.

## Topics
- Cause, Change & Process

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