WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pal•li•ate /ˈpæliˌeɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -at•ed, -at•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Medicineto relieve (pain, etc.) without curing; alleviate:to palliate a chronic disease.
- to try to make (a wrong act or an offense) seem less serious by giving excuses, etc.:to palliate his crime by claiming it was necessary in order to feed his family.
pal•li•ate
(pal′ē āt′),USA pronunciation v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing.
pal′li•a′tion, n.
pal′li•a′tor, n.
- Medicineto relieve or lessen without curing;
mitigate;
alleviate. - to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.;
extenuate.
- Late Latin palliātus cloaked, covered. See pallium, -ate1
- 1540–50
pal′li•a′tor, n.