ex ‧ ten ‧ u ‧ at ‧ ing /ɪkˈstenjuˌeɪtɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of extenuare , from tenuis 'thin' ]
extenuating circumstances/factors etc formal facts or reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to break the usual rules, or make you have sympathy for someone who did something wrong or illegal
—extenuation /ɪkˌstenjuˈeɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable]