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

Who is eligible for a potential refund or abatement? —Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Enhance La Jolla has authority to augment services provided by the city, including landscape maintenance, street and sidewalk cleaning, litter and graffiti abatement and additional trash collection. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026

The development is projected to cost more than $28 million in total, and, after the 15-year abatement period, is expected to provide more than $155,000 annually in tax revenue for all taxing bodies, per the city. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026

The City of Chattanooga’s affordable housing PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) was redesigned two years ago to directly connect the value of a property tax abatement to the actual expense of delivering affordable housing units. —Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 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