What does it mean to "mitigate"?

To "mitigate" means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. The term is often used in contexts such as law, environmental science, public policy, and healthcare, where the goal is to reduce the negative impact of a problem or risk. For instance, in environmental policy, measures might be implemented to mitigate the effects of climate change, meaning they aim to lessen the adverse consequences on the climate and communities. This understanding encompasses actions taken to alleviate issues, indicating that the focus is on reducing intensity or severity rather than ignoring it or complicating the situation.