The act of making something seem less serious or wrong; an excuse or explanation that partially reduces blame or apparent wrongdoing.
From Latin extenuatio, from extenuare (to make thin). The -tion suffix creates an abstract noun describing the process of extenuation rather than a single instance of it.
In criminal law, 'extenuation' is the formal process of weakening guilt—it's why 'extenuating circumstances' can literally change your prison sentence, making one thin word incredibly powerful in the justice system.
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