extenuating circumstance

American  

noun

Law.

1. Usually extenuating circumstances a circumstance that renders conduct less serious and thereby serves to reduce the damages to be awarded or the punishment to be imposed.

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Etymology

Origin of extenuating circumstance

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The defense team said Yamagami’s suffering when growing up amounted to child abuse and should be considered an extenuating circumstance.

From The Wall Street Journal

And after his indictment, he reportedly has alleged that he was drunk as an extenuating circumstance.

From Seattle Times

No matter the situation, the season, the holiday, the extenuating circumstance — there was always tuna.

From Salon

A 29-year-old Maryland man who federal prosecutors said was one of the first rioters to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation by a federal judge who cited the man’s autism as an extenuating circumstance.

From New York Times

“There must be some extenuating circumstance that they felt the urgency to arrest him then instead of waiting, if there was some risk factor, an escape risk or something like that,” Hahn said.

From Seattle Times