False mitigation strangely lacking in gravity (9)

I believe the answer is:

imitation

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'false' is the definition.
(I know that false can be written as imitation)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for imitation that I've seen before include "created by the impressionist" , "Copy; copying" , "Bogus" , "Simulated" , "Unoriginal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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