Excuse

/ɪkˈskjuːz/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense.

She had a perfect excuse for being late; her car broke down.

A formal or polite way of saying that someone cannot do something.

He offered an excuse for his absence from the meeting.

A reason given to justify an action.

The teacher accepted their excuses for missing homework.

verb

To attempt to lessen the blame attached to a fault or offense; to justify.

He tried to excuse his poor performance by saying he was unwell.

To regard as permissible; to pardon.

Please excuse my interruption during your speech.

To release someone from a duty or requirement.

She was excused from the task due to her illness.

Late Middle English: from Latin excusare, from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘cause’.

make excuses

to provide reasons for not doing something

excuse me

a polite way to get someone's attention or to ask for forgiveness

excuse oneself

to leave or withdraw politely from a situation

to take an excuse

to accept a reason given for an error or fault

excuse my French

a humorous phrase used before swearing or using bad language

justify

to show or prove to be right or reasonable.

pardon

to forgive or excuse an offense or mistake.

alibi

a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act occurred.

B.S. excuse

He gave a total B.S. excuse for not turning in his homework.

to front

Don't front; just admit you forgot.

CYA (cover your ass) excuse

She used a CYA excuse to avoid getting in trouble.