# mitigating

/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɪtɪɡˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mitigating
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. making a mistake less serious

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

making a bad action or a mistake seem less serious or easier to understand because of the reasons behind it.

For teachers: serving to reduce the perceived gravity or culpability of an offence or error by providing explanatory context.

- The judge considered his difficult childhood as a mitigating factor in the case.
- The defence attorney argued that the defendant's extreme financial distress constituted a mitigating circumstance that warranted a reduced sentence.

Usage: Commonly used in the fixed phrases 'mitigating factors' or 'mitigating circumstances'.

### 2. reducing harmful effects

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

reducing the harmful effects of something bad, like climate change or a disaster.

For teachers: acting to lessen the impact, severity, or painfulness of a negative phenomenon or event.

- Planting more trees is a key mitigating strategy against rising city temperatures.
- Engineers are developing mitigating technologies to protect coastal infrastructure from the increasing frequency of storm surges.

Usage: Often used in environmental, technical, or risk-management reports.

## Examples

- The judge considered the mitigating factors before the final decision.
- The lawyer argued that the defendant's extreme poverty was a mitigating circumstance in the theft.
- While the breach of contract was clear, the company presented several mitigating factors, including the unprecedented natural disaster that halted all local logistics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.