mitigating circumstance

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

mitigating circumstance - (law) a circumstance that does not exonerate a person but which reduces the penalty associated with the offenseconsideration, circumstance, condition - information that should be kept in mind when making a decision; "another consideration is the time it would take"law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"