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mitigation

mit-i-GAY-shun /ˌmɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

nounC1GRESATGMATTOEFLIELTS

formaltechnical

The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, extent, or painfulness of something negative.

Focuses on proactive steps taken to lessen potential harm or risk (e.g. flood barriers) rather than total elimination or cure.

The story behind the word. Traced back to Latin 'mitigare' (to soften or make mild), from 'mitis' (gentle). Historically used in Roman legal trials for lessening penalties, it was adopted by modern risk engineering and climate science to describe reducing environmental harm.

Word relationships

alleviation: Alleviation focuses on relieving existing distress or pain, whereas mitigation focuses on structural strategies to lessen potential risks or impacts.

aggravation: The act of making a problem, injury, or offense worse or more severe.
exacerbation: Increasing the severity, violence, or bitterness of a situation.

Commonly confused with

adaptation: Mitigation seeks to reduce the cause or severity of a hazard; adaptation seeks to adjust living patterns to cope with unavoidable impacts.

Word family

mitigate (verb): To make less severe, serious, or painful.
mitigating (adjective): Serving to make a condition or crime less severe or punishable.
mitigator (noun): A person or thing that mitigates.

Collocations

flood mitigation
mitigation strategy
risk mitigation
climate mitigation
hazard mitigation

Example sentences

"Constructing coastal seawalls and wetland restoration zones served as effective flood mitigation strategies for the low-lying city." Climate Planning
"Climate change mitigation consists of actions to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term global warming." Global Climate Policy

Memory hook

Mitigate makes a harsh situation MILD. Softening the blow before damage hits.

When not to use

Do not use to describe total cure, complete prevention, or active enhancement.

Fun facts

In legal terms, 'mitigating circumstances' do not excuse a crime entirely, but reduce the severity of the sentence imposed by a judge.