mitigation
gb/mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/ us/mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
~ 8600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
action
1
act of making something less severe
actions or steps that make a bad situation or problem less serious or less harmful.
Usage pattern:
mitigation of [problem or risk]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'mitigation' means completely removing a problem. It usually means reducing how bad or harmful something is, not making it disappear. It is also sometimes confused with 'mediation', which means helping two sides reach an agreement.
Synonyms
reduction (A very general word; does not always suggest reducing harm specifically.)
|
alleviation (Often used for pain or suffering; slightly more emotional in tone than 'mitigation'.)
|
lessening (Everyday word that focuses simply on making something smaller or less serious.)
Antonyms
worsening (Describes a situation becoming more serious, the opposite of reducing its impact.)
|
aggravation (Formal term for making a problem or situation worse or more severe.)
|
exacerbation (Formal term commonly used in technical and medical contexts for making something worse.)
Collocations
climate change mitigation
|risk mitigation
|mitigation measures
|mitigation strategies
|mitigation plan
|damage mitigation
Themes
environment
|business
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company invested heavily in flood mitigation after last year's storms.
- Effective mitigation of cyber risks requires regular software updates and staff training.
- Government policies now focus on both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Early mitigation of the problem prevented serious damage to the building.
- Noise mitigation measures were added to protect nearby residents.
Learner examples
- The city is working on the mitigation of air pollution.
- Good planning can help with the mitigation of fire risks.
- Mitigation of climate change is a major global goal.
- New rules support the mitigation of traffic accidents.
- We need strong mitigation measures to limit the damage.
Noun
formal
C2
entity
2
reasons to lessen punishment
reasons or facts that are given to try to make a punishment or strong criticism less severe, especially in court.
Usage pattern:
in mitigation, [someone] [states/reports] [reasons]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this legal sense with the general idea of 'mitigation' as any kind of damage control. In legal or formal contexts, 'mitigation' here refers specifically to the reasons or information used to argue for a lighter punishment, not to physical actions that reduce harm.
Synonyms
extenuation (Formal and mainly legal; emphasizes factors that partly excuse an offence.)
|
leniency (Focuses on the softer punishment itself, not on the reasons given to justify it.)
Antonyms
aggravation (In law, refers to factors that justify a harsher punishment, the opposite of mitigation.)
|
severity (Emphasizes harsh or strict punishment without softening factors.)
Collocations
in mitigation
|plea in mitigation
|mitigation of sentence
|mitigation hearing
|speak in mitigation
Themes
law
|justice
Examples
- The defense lawyer presented several points in mitigation, including the defendant’s lack of prior convictions.
- In mitigation, the court heard that the crime was committed under extreme financial pressure.
- Her difficult childhood was offered in mitigation of the sentence.
- The judge accepted his genuine remorse as mitigation and reduced the fine.
- Witness statements were read in mitigation before the final decision was announced.
Learner examples
- The lawyer spoke in mitigation before the judge decided the sentence.
- His young age was used in mitigation of the crime.
- In mitigation, the man said he had lost his job and was desperate.
- The court heard several reasons in mitigation of the punishment.
- The judge listened to the plea in mitigation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mitigation
IPA
GB/mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
US/mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
mit - ig - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mitigation
- Plural: mitigation, mitigations
Word family
Forms
mitigations
noun
Core family
mitigate
verb C1
Related words
mitigating
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unmitigated
adjective
Expressions
climate change mitigation
1/klˈaɪmɪt t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
reducing causes/impacts of climate change
actions and plans that try to reduce the amount of climate change or limit its bad effects, for example by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples
- International agreements now focus heavily on climate change mitigation.
- Investing in renewable energy is an important part of climate change mitigation.
in mitigation
1/ˈɪn mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
before giving softening reasons
used before you give information that should make a punishment, penalty, or strong criticism less severe, especially in legal or official situations.
Examples
- In mitigation, his lawyer explained that he had already repaid the stolen money.
- The officer said, in mitigation, that the driver had immediately stopped and called for help.
risk mitigation
1/ɹˈɪsk mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
reducing possible risks or dangers
steps that people or organizations take to make possible problems less likely or less harmful.
Examples
- Risk mitigation should be built into every major project plan.
- The bank updated its policies as part of a wider risk mitigation strategy.