abatement

noun abate·ment \ ə-ˈbāt-mənt \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Definition of abatement

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

See abatement defined for kids

Recent Examples of abatement from the Web

Finally, mosquito abatement districts spray the air as a last line of defense against adult mosquitoes.

— vikki ortiz, chicagotribune.com, "Chicagoland mosquito fighters struggle to keep up with this summer's surge of blood suckers," 11 July 2018
The building qualified for the 421a tax abatement program, which subsidizes buyers’ property taxes for most of a 15-year window.

— New York Times, "New Buildings Rise in Flood Zones," 6 July 2018
In a video spotted by spotted by Neatorama, a video blogger named Rob Plays takes a look at the comprehensive pest abatement program that makes Disney nearly mosquito free.

— melissa locker, ajc, "Here’s why Disney World doesn’t have mosquitoes," 29 June 2018
The proposal would undo the lawsuit and require all companies that manufactured lead paint in California to contribute a total of $500 million into a 10-year lead paint abatement fund for homeowners statewide.

— CBS News, "California taxpayers could have to take on cost of removing lead paint," 26 June 2018
Earlier this month, District 227 approved the abatement agreement, with 159 scheduled to take up the matter in the coming weeks.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Tinley Park works on tax breaks for prospective new owner of hotel," 21 June 2018
Jenks is among the schools that the district has identified as in need of lead paint abatement.

— wendy ruderman, Philly.com, "$15.7M for emergency Philly school repairs to be announced by Hite, Wolf on Friday," 29 June 2018
That number broke down to $330,000 for street improvements, $180,000 for weed abatement and $126,000 for utility undergrounding.

— karen pearlman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Medical marijuana dispensary in L.G., first in city, gets OK," 22 June 2018
Reduce the length and percentage of any new abatements.

— kate murphy, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati teachers to city: Tax breaks costing schools $8.4M. Stop giving so many of them.," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abatement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abatement

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

abatement Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Financial Definition of ABATEMENT

abatement

noun

What It Is

An abatement is a reduction in a tax rate or tax liability.

How It Works

Property taxes are a common subject of abatement (though the term is often used when discussing overdue debt). For example, John Doe owns a house and owes $4,000 in property taxes for the year. John's house is very old, and he is able to have it added to the National Register of Historic Places because Thomas Jefferson once slept there. As a result, the county gives him an abatement, reducing his taxes to only $500.

Why It Matters

Municipalities often grant abatements to incent people to do certain things with property: take action to revitalize a struggling neighborhood, restore a historic place, operate a business or nonprofit organization, or conduct another activity that improves the community as a whole.

Source: Investing Answers