alleviation

noun

al·​le·​vi·​a·​tion ə-ˌlē-vē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce alleviation (audio)
plural alleviations
Synonyms of alleviationnext
1
: the action of alleviating or of being alleviated
beyond correction or alleviation
seeking alleviation of his distress
2
: something that alleviates
all the humane alleviations of brutal violence … were disregardedW. R. Inge

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin alleviation-, alleviatio, from Late Latin alleviatus + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alleviation was in the 15th century

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alleviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleviation. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on alleviation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!