mitigating circumstance
8
7.2
- noun
- /ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪtɪŋ ˈsɜrkəmˌstæns/
- Formal
:
circunstancia atenuante
- For these two, there are no mitigating circumstances; there will be no plea bargains.
- find mitigating circumstances
So she gets up in front of the judge, shows remorse and she's got all these mitigating circumstances.
- So she gets up in front of the judge, shows remorse and she's got all these mitigating circumstances.
- My hope is that, you know, the courts going to recognize some mitigating circumstances and agreed that a much lower sentence would be appropriate.
Examples
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We realize, occasionally there are mitigating circumstances.
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Because of certain mitigating circumstances, all charges but one are summarily dismissed.
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All we're saying is that there were mitigating circumstances.
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"There were," he said, "no mitigating circumstances."
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Due to mitigating circumstances, not guilty, Your Honor.
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There is no need to consider mitigating circumstances.
Academic text (1997) -
All those mitigating circumstances were used to reduce the charges.
Fiction book (2000) -
My hope is that, you know, the courts going to recognize some mitigating circumstances and agreed that a much lower sentence would be appropriate.
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Let's discuss mitigating circumstances.
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The judge took into account the mitigating circumstances before determining the final sentence.
Synonyms
16
5.6
Action that reduces the harm or seriousness of something
How Plausible
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'mitigating' (lessening severity) modifies 'circumstance' (a condition), so a learner who knows both words can infer it means a condition that reduces severity or culpability. While the term is often used in legal contexts, the core meaning follows straightforward adjective+noun semantics and is cross-linguistically transparent.
Etymology
Mitigating circumstance comes from judges in court who noticed facts that made a crime seem less serious: mitigating means 'making less severe' and circumstance means a fact or situation. That's why the phrase is used for a detail that 'reduces the punishment' or lessens blame.