mitigation

[mit-i-gey-shuh n]

noun

the act of mitigating, or lessening the force or intensity of something unpleasant, as wrath, pain, grief, or extreme circumstances: Social support is the most important factor in the mitigation of stress among adolescents.

the act of making a condition or consequence less severe: the mitigation of a punishment.

the process of becoming milder, gentler, or less severe.

a mitigating circumstance, event, or consequence.

Related formsnon·mit·i·ga·tion, noun

mitigate

[mit-i-geyt]

verb (used with object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.

to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.

to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.

to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease.

verb (used without object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.

to become milder; lessen in severity.

Origin of mitigate

1375–1425; late Middle English mitigaten < Latin mītigātus (past participle of mītigāre to calm, soften, soothe), equivalent to mīt(is) mild, soft, gentle + -ig- (combining form of agere to do, cause to do, make) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsmit·i·ga·ble

[mit-i-guh-buh l] /ˈmɪt ɪ gə bəl/, adjectivemit·i·gat·ed·ly, adverbmit·i·ga·tion, nounmit·i·ga·tive, mit·i·ga·to·ry

[mit-i-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈmɪt ɪ gəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivemit·i·ga·tor, nounnon·mit·i·ga·tive, adjectivenon·mit·i·ga·to·ry, adjectiveo·ver·mit·i·gate, verb, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ed, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ing.un·mit·i·ga·ble, adjectiveun·mit·i·ga·tive, adjective

Can be confusedmilitate mitigate (see usage note at the current entry)

Usage note

Mitigate, whose central meaning is “to lessen” or “to make less severe,” is sometimes confused with militate, which means “to have effect or influence; weigh on.” This mix-up often occurs in the use of the phrase mitigate against, as follows: This criticism in no way mitigates (read militates ) against your going ahead with your research. Although this use of mitigate occasionally occurs in edited writing, it is rare and is widely regarded as an error.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mitigations

extenuation, remission, reduction, moderation, cure, relief

Examples from the Web for mitigations

Historical Examples of mitigations

There yet remains the grateful duty of speaking of the mitigations of our trials.
Glances at Europe
Horace Greeley
But her mind was far from Bertram and the mitigations he offered.
Amabel Channice
Anne Douglas Sedgwick
Many alterations and mitigations were proposed, without effect.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.
Tobias Smollett
There are, in short, mitigations of their lot, and possibly excuses for their existence.
Double Harness
Anthony Hope
Its condemnation does not take the least heed of mitigations.
The Eddy
Clarence L. Cullen

British Dictionary definitions for mitigations

mitigate

verb

to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate

Derived Formsmitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl), adjectivemitigation, nounmitigative or mitigatory, adjectivemitigator, noun

Word Origin for mitigate

C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make

usage

Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mitigations

mitigate

early 15c., "relieve (pain)," from Latin mitigatus, past participle of mitigare "soften, make tender, ripen, mellow, tame," figuratively, "make mild or gentle, pacify, soothe," ultimately from mitis "gentle, soft" (from PIE *mei- "mild") + root of agere "do, make, act" (see act). First element is from PIE root *mei- "soft, mild." Related: Mitigated; mitigating; mitigates.

mitigation

mid-14c., from Latin mitigationem (nominative mitigatio), noun of action from past participle stem of mitigare (see mitigate).

mitigations in Medicine

mitigate

[mĭt′ĭ-gāt′]

v.

To moderate in force or intensity.

Related formsmit′i•ga′tion n.