noun. ['ˌmɪtɪˈgeɪʃən'] to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious.
noun. ['ˌmɪtɪˈgeɪʃən'] the action of lessening in severity or intensity.
noun. ['ˌmɪtɪˈgeɪʃən'] a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances.