Meaning of excuse

Definition of excuse

(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"
a note explaining an absence; "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile"
(verb) accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands"
grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this class"
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"
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
ask for permission to be released from an engagement
excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with; "excuse someone's behavior"; "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"

Other information on excuse

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