remittitur

1a :  a procedure under which a court may order the reduction of an excessive verdict; especially :  a procedure in which the court requires the plaintiff to remit the portion of the verdict deemed excessive in lieu of a grant of a defendant's motion for a new trial or of a reversal if the court is an appellate court b :  a remission to a defendant by a plaintiff of the portion of a verdict considered excessive by the court c :  the formal agreement or stipulation of a plaintiff waiving or releasing the right to receive the portion of a verdict considered excessive — compare additur

2 :  a sending back of a case and its record from an appellate or superior court to a trial or inferior court for further proceedings (as additional findings of fact) or for entry of a judgment in accordance with instructions or the decision of the higher court