[noun] a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable" Synonyms:alibi, exculpation, self-justification
[noun] a note explaining an absence; "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
[noun] a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile" Synonyms:apology
[verb] accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands" Synonyms:pardon
[verb] grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this class" Synonyms:relieve, let off, exempt
[verb] serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce amy explain her reluctance to date again" Synonyms:explain
[verb] defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" Synonyms:apologize, apologise, justify, rationalize, rationalise
[verb] ask for permission to be released from an engagement Synonyms:beg off
[verb] excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with; "excuse someone's behavior"; "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities" Synonyms:condone
