excuse

Noun

• a poor example
  • it was an apology for a meal
    
  • a poor excuse for an automobile
    

• a note explaining an absence
  • he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him
    

• 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
    

Verb

• excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with
  • excuse someone's behavior
    
  • She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities
    

• ask for permission to be released from an engagement

• defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
  • rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
    
  • he rationalized his lack of success
    

• 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 may explain her reluctance to date again
    

• grant exemption or release to
  • Please excuse me from this class
    

• accept an excuse for
  • Please excuse my dirty hands
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  apology , alibi , exculpation , self-justification , condone , beg off , apologize , apologise , justify , rationalize , rationalise , explain , relieve , let off , exempt , pardon