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

While the Biden administration emphasized oversight, risk mitigation and equity, the current administration has taken a different approach that prioritizes deregulation, research and innovation. —Brian Neely, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Trials include research on topics such as suicide mitigation and treatment for substance use disorder, according to NAVREF's data collection. —Katia Riddle, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025

Instead of using our community’s grief to advance Sen. Weiner’s San Francisco agenda, the Legislature should be focused on recovery, relief, and mitigation. —Peter Kwong, Orange County Register, 10 Mar. 2025

The group was awarded a grant to complete wildfire mitigation work and repair damage caused by the 2020 East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires. —Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mitigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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