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: intensification, increase

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

City data shows the number of postings and so-called abatements have decreased in recent months as the number of camps downtown has grown.

From Voice of San Diego

So-called abatement operations where homeless San Diegans are required to move to allow for cleaning dramatically ramped up on former Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s watch.

From Voice of San Diego

“The future does appear daunting, with the situation showing no signs of abatement.”

From Fortune

So there’s subleasing, there’s rent abatement, they can utilize security deposits applied towards rent.

From Eater

Nevertheless, Kitchell goes on to recommend a massively expensive abatement project that is not based on a thorough inspection of building conditions, or a complete analysis of available documents.

From Voice of San Diego

He was hired by a local NGO working on poverty abatement issues.

From The Daily Beast

Environmental lead abatement does a better job of explaining the crime decrease than almost any other variable.

From The Daily Beast

Yet after every abatement has been made, they showed a strength of popular attachment to the Church which is very noteworthy.

From Project Gutenberg

The distress from his head continued for some time with little abatement, and naturally much affected his tone of mind.

From Project Gutenberg

If so, that is another difficulty in the way of making abatement in our demand, without their consent.

From Project Gutenberg

Here it may well be thought that the supernatural gift only took its appropriate abatement.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor will the close of the reconstruction period witness an abatement of this demand.

From Project Gutenberg