abatement

[uh-beyt-muhnt]

noun

1. the act or state of abating or the state of being abated; reduction; decrease; alleviation; mitigation.

   Synonyms: diminution, letup
   Antonyms: increase, increase, intensification

2. suppression or termination.

   abatement of a nuisance; noise abatement.

   Synonyms: cessation, end

3. an amount deducted or subtracted, as from the usual price or the full tax.

4. Law.

   1. a reduction of a tax assessment.

   2. the termination of a nuisance.

   3. a wrongful entry on land made by a stranger, after the owner's death and before the owner's heir or devisee has obtained possession.

   4. a decrease in the legacies of a will when the assets of an estate are insufficient to pay all general legacies in full.

5. Also called rebatement. Heraldry.,  a charge or mark that, when introduced into a coat of arms, indicates the owner's disgrace.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abatement¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French; equivalent to abate + -ment

Example Sentences

The two-year program prepares graduates for careers in a variety of fields, from zookeeping to Hollywood animal training, wildlife conservation and even pest abatement.

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This is money that huge companies have agreed to pay to US states, to be used for the "abatement of the opioid epidemic".

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As part of a national settlement that includes opioid distributors and manufacturers, opioid abatement settlement funds are being distributed among the hardest hit areas of the country.

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It follows a nuisance abatement action brought by the town “after years of inaction by the property’s owners, the Charles Co., and its affiliate M&A Gabaee,” the city said in a statement.

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Add to that a sprawling transportation network, fast-growing cities and generous incentive packages — tax abatements, relocation grants, expedited permitting — and it’s little wonder that companies from multiple sectors now treat Texas as a default destination.

Read more on Salon