excuse
1 of 2verb
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüz 
imperatively often ˈskyüz
excused; excusing
transitive verb
1
a
: to make apology for
b
: to try to remove blame from
2
: to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable
graciously excused his tardiness
3
a
: to grant exemption or release to
was excused from jury duty
b
: to allow to leave
excused the class
4
: to serve as excuse for : justify
nothing can excuse such neglect
excusable
ik-ˈskyü-zə-bəl
adjective excusableness noun
excusably
ik-ˈskyü-zə-blē
adverb excuser noun
excuse
2 of 2noun
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüs
1
: the act of excusing
2
a
: something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused
b
excuses plural : an expression of regret for failure to do something
c
: a note of explanation of an absence
3
: justification, reason
Synonyms
Verb
- blink (at)
- brush (aside or off)
- condone
- discount
- disregard
- forgive
- gloss (over)
- gloze (over)
- ignore
- overlook
- overpass
- paper over
- pardon
- pass over
- remit
- shrug off
- whitewash
- wink (at)
Noun
- alibi
- apology
- defense
- justification
- plea
- reason
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb His boss excused the mistake but told him to be more careful next time. Please excuse me for not calling sooner. I was excused from jury duty. The teacher excused the class from homework that day. Nothing can excuse that kind of rudeness. Her father's illness excused her absence. Noun What's your excuse for being so late? She had no valid excuse for not finishing her homework. He's always making excuses for himself. I made my excuses and left. His birthday gives us a good excuse for a party. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 People are quick to find fault with ambitious, successful women and to excuse unethical men. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Lionel, who lived, excuse me, LIVED through the '70s, is having the time of his life. Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2021 One of the reasons this turnaround has shocked so many is that, after Manchin appeared to kill climate spending earlier this month, the mainstream media was happy to excuse his behavior by scapegoating voters. Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 29 July 2022 This cognitive dissonance sometimes helps to excuse the actions of the mob itself. WSJ, 16 May 2022 These shifts in the film between earnestness and anything-for-a-laugh comedy sometimes feel off, allowing the audience to excuse the characters’ bad behavior as silly, not reckless. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022 The motion asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who’s overseeing the special grand jury to excuse the 11 electors from appearing before the panel. Kate Brumback, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 The motion asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who's overseeing the special grand jury to excuse the 11 electors from appearing. Kate Brumback, ajc, 19 July 2022 Nathaniel Mott, PCMAG, 10 Sep. 2022 Just don’t try that excuse on Phoenix Normand, chief of staff at a tech company in California. Callum Borchers, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Twitter sued Musk on July 12, arguing that Musk is looking for an excuse to bow out of the deal after his personal net worth fell with the drop-off in Tesla’s stock price. Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022 Twitter maintains that its SEC filings were accurate and that Musk is looking for an excuse to wriggle out of the deal. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Aug. 2022 Any good excuse to wear pj's in public is the dream, right? Terri Robertson, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2022 Didone acknowledged that, around the country, too many officers took the practice too far — coming up with any excuse to pull over a car, for example. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 High traffic and call volume is one thing, but the airlines can’t use that excuse for months. Christopher Elliott, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 The clients were happy for an excuse to get new hardwood floors! Ann Abel, House Beautiful, 1 June 2022 See More
Verb
The defendant pleaded guilty to the murders last October, eliminating the defense’s ability to use insanity to explain or excuse his actions. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 People are quick to find fault with ambitious, successful women and to excuse unethical men. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Lionel, who lived, excuse me, LIVED through the '70s, is having the time of his life. Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2021 One of the reasons this turnaround has shocked so many is that, after Manchin appeared to kill climate spending earlier this month, the mainstream media was happy to excuse his behavior by scapegoating voters. Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 29 July 2022 This cognitive dissonance sometimes helps to excuse the actions of the mob itself. WSJ, 16 May 2022 These shifts in the film between earnestness and anything-for-a-laugh comedy sometimes feel off, allowing the audience to excuse the characters’ bad behavior as silly, not reckless. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022 The motion asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who’s overseeing the special grand jury to excuse the 11 electors from appearing before the panel. Kate Brumback, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 The motion asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who's overseeing the special grand jury to excuse the 11 electors from appearing. Kate Brumback, ajc, 19 July 2022 Noun
This isn't the first time Musk's lawyers have turned to Zatko for an excuse to walk away from the Twitter acquisition. Nathaniel Mott, PCMAG, 10 Sep. 2022 Just don’t try that excuse on Phoenix Normand, chief of staff at a tech company in California. Callum Borchers, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Twitter sued Musk on July 12, arguing that Musk is looking for an excuse to bow out of the deal after his personal net worth fell with the drop-off in Tesla’s stock price. Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022 Twitter maintains that its SEC filings were accurate and that Musk is looking for an excuse to wriggle out of the deal. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Aug. 2022 Any good excuse to wear pj's in public is the dream, right? Terri Robertson, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2022 Didone acknowledged that, around the country, too many officers took the practice too far — coming up with any excuse to pull over a car, for example. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 High traffic and call volume is one thing, but the airlines can’t use that excuse for months. Christopher Elliott, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 The clients were happy for an excuse to get new hardwood floors! Ann Abel, House Beautiful, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French escuser, excuser, from Latin excusare, from ex- + causa cause, explanation
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing excuse
Kids Definition
excuse 1 of 2
verb
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüz
excused; excusing
1
: to make apology for
I excused myself for being late.
2
: to overlook or pardon as of little importance
"You must excuse my gruff conduct," the watchdog said … Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth
Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth3
: to let off from doing something
He was excused from chores for a week.
4
: to be an acceptable reason for
Nothing excuses bad manners.
excuse
2 of 2noun
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüs
1
: a reason given for having done something wrong
What's your excuse for being so late?
2
: something that is an acceptable reason for or justifies
There is no excuse for bad behavior.
3
: a reason for doing something
That's a good excuse for a party.
Legal Definition
excuse 1 of 2
verb
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüz
excused; excusing
transitive verb
1
: to grant exemption or release to
excused the prospective juror
excused the witness after an hour of testimony
2
: justify
intransitive verb
: to serve as an excuse or justification
exigent circumstances may excuse J. J. White and R. S. Summers
J. J. White and R. S. Summersexcuse
2 of 2noun
ex·cuse ik-ˈskyüs
1
: excusal
2
a
: a circumstance that allows for release under the law from an obligation, duty, or contractual liability compare act of god, force majeure, fortuitous event, impossibility of performance
b
: a circumstance (as a physical threat) that grants immunity for otherwise tortious or criminal conduct compare justification, privilege
excused
verb
1
as in ignored
to dismiss as of little importance more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ignored
- overlooked
- justified
- explained
- pardoned
- disregarded
- condoned
- forgave
- discounted
- remitted
- whitewashed
- passed over
- overpassed
- rationalized
- papered over
- forgave and forgot
- shrugged off
- absolved
- blinked (at)
- brushed (aside or off)
- exculpated
- waived
- exonerated
- winked (at)
- vindicated
- acquitted
- glossed (over)
- glozed (over)
- closed one's eyes to
- cleared
- waved (aside or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noted
- marked
- objected (to)
- heeded
- minded
2
as in justified
to be an acceptable reason for having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit Synonyms & Similar Words
- justified
- explained
- rationalized
- ignored
- condoned
- alibied
- pardoned
- forgave
- explained away
- disregarded
- accounted (for)
- passed over
- brushed (aside or off)
- remitted
- winked (at)
- shrugged off
- glossed (over)
- glozed (over)
3
as in explained
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies Synonyms & Similar Words
- justified
- explained
- palliated
- extenuated
- whitewashed
- apologized
- confessed
- explained away
- rationalized
- deodorized
- atoned
- minimized
- mitigated
- absolved
- exculpated
- alleviated
- exonerated
- lessened
- vindicated
- glossed (over)
- acquitted
- sugarcoated
- tempered
- glozed (over)
- varnished
- softened
- moderated
- eased
- lightened
- played down
- soft-pedaled
- cleared
- accounted (for)