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

Members of the council Economic Committee unanimously advanced the abatement in a voice vote. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Relief won’t happen automatically, and impacted taxpayers generally must take action by July 10 to receive a possible refund or abatement, which is a penalty waiver, Collins wrote. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 11 May 2026

Since the court ruling suggested tax deadlines were moved to July 10, 2023, three years from that date would be July 10, 2026 – the last day to preserve your claim for a potential refund or abatement, tax lawyers said. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 11 May 2026

Advertisement Protective claims can also be filed for abatements on interest and penalties that have not yet been paid. —Connor Greene, Time, 11 May 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