Mitigation
ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən
Definitions
The act of lessening the force or intensity of something; the process of making something less severe, serious, or painful.
ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən
The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
The government implemented various measures for flood mitigation.
💡 Simply: Mitigation is like trying to make a problem smaller or less harmful. If a storm is coming, mitigation means taking steps to protect your house, like putting up shutters. It's all about reducing the damage.
👶 For kids: Mitigation means making something bad not so bad. Like if you're clumsy and you know you might drop something, mitigation would be holding it tightly!
More Examples
This policy focuses on the mitigation of risks in the financial sector.
Early intervention is crucial for the mitigation of developmental delays in children.
How It's Used
"The company is investing in carbon emission mitigation strategies."
"Evidence of remorse can be a factor in mitigation during sentencing."
"Effective mitigation plans are essential to reduce the impact of natural disasters."
From Latin *mitigatio*, meaning 'a softening, alleviation,' from *mitigare* 'to soften, make mild,' from *mitis* 'mild' + *agere* 'to do, drive.'
Historically, the word has been used in legal and religious contexts to describe the lessening of punishment or the easing of suffering.
Memory tip
Think of 'mitigation' as making a bad situation less bad, like lessening the blow.