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

• deduction
• discount
• reduction

Examples of abatement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Allow cities and towns, starting in October, to expand an existing property tax abatement program for police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians killed in the line of duty. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025

For instance, federal or state funding could be used to ease pain points for local communities, such as paying for resources and services, which can then be passed on to developers in the form of property tax abatements to encourage new construction. —Matt Frazier, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Such large spending and staffing cuts as being proposed would eliminate such things as monitoring air and water quality, responding to natural disasters and lead abatement in our water supply, among many other agency functions. —Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025

On Tuesday, Lynn Shipman, an unhoused resident living at the future abatement site, appeared at the San Jose City Council to ask about the city’s plans and to petition city leaders to use their power to delay the abatement. —Devan Patel, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025

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