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

[ Syn: alibi , exculpation , self-justification ]

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

[ Syn: apology ]

accept an excuse for; Please excuse my dirty hands

[ Syn: pardon ]

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

[ Syn: relieve , let off , exempt ]

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

[ Syn: explain ]

defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; rationalize the childs seemingly crazy behavior; he rationalized his lack of success

[ Syn: apologize , apologise , justify , rationalize , rationalise ]

ask for permission to be released from an engagement

[ Syn: beg off ]

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with; excuse someones behavior; She condoned her husbands occasional infidelities

[ Syn: condone ]