extenuation

Definition of Extenuation in English :

1. extenuation, mitigation

a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances

2. extenuation, mitigation, palliation

to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Extenuation

noun

1.

an extenuating or being extenuated; esp., mitigation, as of the seriousness of a crime, offense, etc.

2.

a thing that extenuates; partial excuse

n.

1. The act of extenuating or the condition of being extenuated; partial justification.

2. A partial excuse.