extenuation

noun
UK: /ɪkˌsten.juˈeɪ.ʃən/
US: /ɪkˌsten.juˈeɪ.ʃən/

  1. Something that makes a wrong action easier to understand and forgive, by providing an excuse.

    1. His poverty is offered as an extenuation for his crime.
    2. The defense argued that his difficult childhood was an extenuation for his actions, not a justification.

  2. The act of making something seem less serious or blameworthy.

    1. There is no extenuation for such behaviour, it was simply unacceptable.
    2. Her apology included an extenuation of her lateness, citing unforeseen traffic delays.

Synonyms

excuse mitigation justification alibi

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "extenuation" in English means: Something that makes a wrong action easier to understand and forgive, by providing an excuse., The act of making something seem less serious or blameworthy..

The phonetic transcription of "extenuation" is /ɪkˌsten.juˈeɪ.ʃən/ in British English and /ɪkˌsten.juˈeɪ.ʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "extenuation": excuse, mitigation, justification, alibi.

Example usage of "extenuation": "His poverty is offered as an extenuation for his crime.". More examples on the page.