Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
mitigating circumstances
Noun phrase
[ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪtɪŋ ˈsɜːrkəmstænsɪz]
Definition
Factors that might lessen the severity of a situation or offense.
Examples
- In court, the defendant’s troubled childhood was presented as a mitigating circumstance.
- Judges often take mitigating circumstances into account when determining sentences.
- The presence of mitigating circumstances may lead to a reduced penalty during trials.
Meaning
Mitigating circumstances are conditions or factors that can reduce a person’s culpability or the severity of punishment they might face.
Synonyms
- Extenuating circumstances
- Mitigating factors
- Reducing factors
