1.
If someone, especially in a court, is told something in ~, they are told something that makes a crime or fault easier to understand and excuse. (FORMAL)
Kieran Coonan QC told the judge in ~ that the offences had been at the lower end of the scale...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
2.
Mitigation is a reduction in the unpleasantness, seriousness, or painfulness of something. (FORMAL)
...the ~ or cure of a physical or mental condition.
= alleviation
N-UNCOUNT