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

Water damage and mold meant people trying to bring the building back to life have had to strip out insulation, conduct asbestos abatements and shut off unsafe parts of the chapel. —Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026

Other forms of tax relief, such as penalty abatement or debt settlement, have different rules and deadlines. —Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

The lawsuit asks the Ingham County Circuit Court to declare Kalshi's internet sports betting operation a common law nuisance and to issue a permanent injunction and order of abatement enjoining and restraining Kalshi from engaging in or advertising its internet sports betting operation in Michigan. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 6 Mar. 2026

For years, the city has calculated its compliance with that limit using a methodology that excludes certain abatements from the operating levy, relying largely on a crisis-era attorney general opinion addressing reserves for uncollectible taxes tied to debt service. —Martha E. Stark, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 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