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

The company continues to evaluate avenues for mitigating internal control weaknesses but has deemed complete mitigation impractical due to its limited staff size. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Risk mitigation: Investors recognize that climate change and environmental degradation pose long-term risks to the financial system and specific sectors. —Christer Holloman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

This kind of research is necessary for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies as global warming causes sea level rise and formation of more powerful storms that hold more moisture, Khan said, adding that five hurricanes have made landfall in Texas since 2020. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Most fleeces are also porous enough to let breezes in, which is great for sweat mitigation but bad for comfort amid 30-mph winds. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 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