mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmi-tə-ˈgā-shən 

plural mitigations

: the act of mitigating something or the state of being mitigated : the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harsh, extensive, or damaging

mitigation of suffering

mitigation of punishment

There was, in sum, a period during the Cold War … when a mitigation of the Cold War, including a renegotiation of some of its most troublesome tensions, was possible or even probable.

—John Lukacs

Examples of mitigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the Ada County budget presentation, Koberg reminded people that even as river flow decreases, officials will be waiting on warmer temperatures and debris mitigation before the float season is underway. —Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026

Prepared mitigation options turn prediction into measurable action. —Amruth Puppala, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Rather than remain idle, the conservation corps shifted its efforts elsewhere, traveling south to assist with wildfire mitigation projects near Colorado's Great Sand Dunes. —Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 11 June 2026

In contrast, Silverman’s consultants have suggested the company’s mitigation plans could actually improve environmental conditions at the site. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mitigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Medical Definition

mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmit-ə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act of mitigating or state of being mitigated

the cure, prevention, or mitigation of disease

—Encyclopedia Americana

2

: something that mitigates

a large number of drugs and mitigations … at the clinic

—The Journal of the American Medical Association