mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmi-tə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce mitigation (audio)
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, 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
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Among the noise mitigation measures San Diego’s program provides for free are retrofitted exterior doors and windows, installation of a ventilation system, and more modest measures like placing weather stripping and caulking around openings. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025 Laguna Beach officials have spent $25 million over the past several years in compliance with a 2019 fire mitigation plan, the Los Angeles Times reported. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 8 July 2025 Other challenges the state will have to contend with include the federal rollback of environmental protections and the loss of funding for climate change research and mitigation. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025 Once on the lunar surface, the instruments will operate for one full lunar day (about 14 Earth days), conducting experiments in lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, X-ray imaging, and dust mitigation. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for mitigation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mitigation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mitigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mitigation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

mitigation

noun
mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmit-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce mitigation (audio)
1
: the act of mitigating or state of being mitigated
the cure, prevention, or mitigation of diseaseEncyclopedia Americana
2
: something that mitigates
a large number of drugs and mitigations … at the clinicThe Journal of the American Medical Association

More from Merriam-Webster on mitigation

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