mitigation

 
Pronunciation: /mɪtɪˈgeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something: the identification and mitigation of pollution

Phrases

in mitigation

so as to make something, especially a crime, appear less serious and thus be punished more leniently: in mitigation she said her client had been deeply depressed

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin mitigatio(n-), from the verb mitigare 'alleviate' (see mitigate)