名詞 extenuation:

1. a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
   同義詞：mitigation
2. to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
   同義詞：mitigation, palliation

1. He pleaded poverty in extenuation of (ie as an excuse for) the theft.
   他以貧窮為藉口請(qǐng)求為他犯的偷竊罪從輕量刑。

ex.ten.u.a.tion

n.（名詞）
The act of extenuating or the condition of being extenuated; partial justification.
開脫：使人原諒的行為或被人原諒的條件；偏心的辯護(hù)
A partial excuse.
借口：偏心的借口