mitigating
Meaning: Serving to make something less severe, serious, or painful; in law, describing factors that reduce the gravity of an offence or the harshness of a sentence.
Mitigating is most frequently encountered in the legal phrase 'mitigating circumstances' or 'mitigating factors,' which defence counsel present during sentencing to argue for a reduced punishment. Common mitigating factors include youth, previous good character, remorse, cooperation with the authorities, and personal hardship. The term also appears in broader contexts — risk management, climate policy, and healthcare — where it describes actions taken to reduce the severity of harm. It collocates with 'circumstances,' 'factors,' 'evidence,' and 'measures.'
Examples
- Defence counsel presented several mitigating factors, including the defendant's early guilty plea and genuine expression of remorse. 辩护律师提出了多项减轻因素,包括被告的早期认罪和真诚的悔恨表达。El abogado defensor presentó varios factores atenuantes, entre ellos la temprana declaración de culpabilidad del acusado y su genuina expresión de arrepentimiento.弁護人は、被告人の早期の有罪答弁と真摯な反省の表明を含む複数の減軽要因を提示した。변호인은 피고인의 조기 유죄 답변과 진지한 반성의 표현을 포함한 여러 감경 요인을 제시했습니다.
- The judge acknowledged mitigating circumstances but stressed that a custodial sentence was nevertheless appropriate. 法官承认存在减轻情节,但强调监禁刑仍然是适当的。El juez reconoció las circunstancias atenuantes, pero subrayó que una pena privativa de libertad era, no obstante, procedente.裁判官は酌量すべき事情を認めたが、それにもかかわらず拘禁刑が適切であると強調した。판사는 감경 사유를 인정하면서도 그럼에도 불구하고 구금형이 적절하다고 강조했습니다.
- The report recommended mitigating measures to reduce the environmental impact of the proposed motorway extension. 报告建议采取减缓措施,以减少拟议高速公路延伸对环境的影响。El informe recomendó medidas de mitigación para reducir el impacto medioambiental de la prolongación de la autopista propuesta.報告書は、提案された高速道路延伸の環境への影響を軽減するための緩和措置を勧告した。보고서는 제안된 고속도로 연장의 환경 영향을 줄이기 위한 완화 조치를 권고했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin mitigare (to soften, alleviate), from mitis (soft, gentle) and agere (to drive, do). The present participle form has been used in English since the 15th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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