mitigating circumstance

noun

Legal Definition of mitigating circumstance

: a circumstance in the commission of an act that lessens the degree of criminal culpability was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder because of mitigating circumstances also : a circumstance or factor relating to an offense or defendant that does not bear on the question of culpability but that receives consideration by the court especially in lessening the severity of a sentence the mitigating circumstance of the defendant's terminal illness — compare aggravating circumstance

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Dictionary Entries near mitigating circumstance

mistake of law

mistrial

mitigate

mitigating circumstance

mitigation of damages

mitigator

mittimus

Cite this Entry

“Mitigating circumstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/mitigating%20circumstance. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

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