mitigation
mit-i-GAY-shuhn
/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/
The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
In environmentalism, it refers to strategies that reduce the impact of pollution rather than eliminating it entirely.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'mitigare', meaning 'to make mild or gentle'. It was originally used to describe softening fruit or calming a person's temper.
Word relationships
- alleviation: Alleviation often refers to physical pain; mitigation is more common in policy and risk management.
- exacerbation: Making a problem worse.
Commonly confused with
- litigation: Litigation is a lawsuit; mitigation is lessening a bad effect.
Word family
- mitigate (verb): To make less severe.
- mitigatory (adjective): Tending to mitigate.
Collocations
- mitigation strategy
- risk mitigation
- climate mitigation
Example sentences
- "The city implemented several mitigation measures, such as planting more trees, to combat the urban heat island effect." Urban planning strategy.
- "The company argued that their mitigation efforts should lead to a lower fine for the chemical spill." Legal context.
Memory hook
Miti-gate: Like a 'gate' that 'limits' (mitigates) how much water flows through. Softening the blow.
When not to use
Do not use for 'fixing' a broken machine; use it for 'softening' a negative impact.
Fun facts
- In environmental law, 'mitigation banking' allows developers to destroy a wetland if they pay to restore one elsewhere.
Related words
Explore more words
mitigate, remediation, offset, palliative, Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas
Also appears in
- Conflict → Excuses & Justifications
- Business → Workplace Hazards & Safety
- Technology → Ecology & Climate Science
- Law → Clemency, Pardons & Parole
- Nature → Environmental Conservation
- Nature → Urban Environmental Planning
- Health Sciences → Preventive & Rehabilitative Medicine
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Climate Policy & International Agreements
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → International Environmental Accords
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Disaster Mitigation & Resilience
- Health Sciences → Global Pandemics & Disease Control
- Aviation & Maritime Transport → Aviation Safety & Investigations
- Law → Traffic Courts & Citations
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