mitigation
[ mit-i-gey-shuh n ]
/ ˌmɪt ɪˈgeɪ ʃən /
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 WORDS
Nearby words
mithridatism, mithridatize, miticide, mitigate, mitigating circumstances, mitigation, mitilíni, mitis, mitla, mitnaged, mitnagged
Related forms
non·mit·i·ga·tion, nounDefinition for mitigations (2 of 2)
mitigate
[ mit-i-geyt ]
/ ˈmɪt ɪˌgeɪt /
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 forms
Can be confused
militate 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
Examples from the Web for mitigations
British Dictionary definitions for mitigations
mitigate
/ (ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt) /
verb
to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate
Derived Forms
mitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl), adjectivemitigation, nounmitigative or mitigatory, adjectivemitigator, nounWord 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
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Medicine definitions for mitigations
mitigate
[ mĭt′ĭ-gāt′ ]
v.
To moderate in force or intensity.
Related forms
mit′i•ga′tion n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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