# mitigation

/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ (US) · /mˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mitigation
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the act of making something bad or painful less severe. You use this word when talking about reducing the damage from a problem.

For teachers: the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something. Often used in legal, environmental, or technical contexts to describe preventative measures.

## Examples

- The city is working on flood mitigation to protect homes.
- Effective risk mitigation requires identifying potential problems before they escalate into full-scale crises.
- The environmental impact report suggested several mitigation strategies, including the restoration of local wetlands to offset the damage caused by the new highway construction.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'of' plus a noun phrase representing the negative impact being reduced.

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