Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
mitigating circumstances
Noun phrase
[ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪtɪŋ ˈsɜːrkəmstænsɪz]
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Definition
Factors that might lessen the severity of a situation or offense.
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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.
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Meaning
Mitigating circumstances are conditions or factors that can reduce a person’s culpability or the severity of punishment they might face.
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Synonyms
- Extenuating circumstances
- Mitigating factors
- Reducing factors