mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmi-tə-ˈgā-shən 

plural mitigations

: the act of mitigating something or the state of being mitigated : the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harsh, or damaging

mitigation of suffering

mitigation of punishment

There was, in sum, a period during the Cold War … when a mitigation of the Cold War, including a renegotiation of some of its most troublesome tensions, was possible or even probable.

—John Lukacs

Examples of mitigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For internal stakeholders less engaged in sustainability, communicating the value of risk mitigation in terms of regulatory change, energy prices or brand value may help to build bridges. —Ted Kail, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Risk mitigation is another strength of First Class Automation’s service. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

But there is no one simplest and most cost-effective type of mitigation, FEMA says. —Micheline Maynard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024

One of Gonzalez’s most unique challenges involved fire mitigation at Cuyamaca College. —Contributing Writer, Orange County Register, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmit-ə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act of mitigating or state of being mitigated

the cure, prevention, or mitigation of disease

—Encyclopedia Americana

2

: something that mitigates

a large number of drugs and mitigations … at the clinic

—The Journal of the American Medical Association