abatement

noun

abate·​ment ə-ˈbāt-mənt 

1

: the act or process of reducing or otherwise abating something

abatement of pollution

: the state of being abated

a storm continuing without abatement [=without weakening]

2

: an amount abated

especially : a deduction from the full amount of a tax

… devised tax credits, refunds, and abatements to benefit private corporations …

—William Greider

Synonyms of abatement

• reduction
• deduction

Examples of abatement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, using opioid abatement funds, the county has expanded youth and family support services, co-responder units and other harm-reduction services. — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money in Idaho specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026

Coffman said the jurisdictional boundary matters because Aurora and Denver have different policies for abatements. — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Minhee told me that public-reporting requirements vary state to state on the eighty-five per cent of the settlement that must be spent on opioid abatement. — Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from abatre "to abate" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing abatement

• tax abatement

Rhymes for abatement

• overstatement
• reinstatement
• understatement
• affreightment
• misstatement
• restatement
• statement

Kids Definition

abatement

noun

abate·​ment ə-ˈbāt-mənt 

1

: the act or process of abating : the state of being abated

2

: an amount abated (as from a tax)

Legal Definition

abatement

noun

abate·​ment ə-ˈbāt-mənt 

1

: the act or process of abating or the state of being abated

challenged the abatement of her bequest

abatement of a private nuisance by self-help

—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton

2

: an amount abated : deduction

especially : a deduction from the full amount of a tax