excuse

1 of 2

verb

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 2

noun

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

Choose the Right Synonym for excuse

Verb

excuse, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress.

excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these.

excuse an interruption

excused them for interrupting

Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

injustice excuses strong responses

condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.

a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

Noun

apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense.

apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

Examples of excuse in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As in, so bad as to never be excused, ever? Miss Manners agrees there is an indelicacy to handling another diner’s place settings. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

You’d be excused for forgetting that both men were still running for the U.S. Senate in California. —Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty. —R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

In social situations, redirect the conversation to some other topic (or come up with a polite excuse to exit). —Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024

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

• excuse me
• excuse oneself
• poor/sad/sorry excuse for

Kids Definition

excuse

1 of 2 verb

ex·​cuse ik-ˈskyüz 

excused; excusing

1

: to make apology for

excused myself for being late

2

: to overlook or dismiss as of little importance

excuse a mistake

3

a

: to release from doing something

excused the class from homework

b

: to allow to leave

excused the sick student from class

4

: to be an acceptable reason for : justify

nothing excuses bad manners

excusable

-ˈskyü-zə-bəl 

adjective

excusably

-blē 

adverb

excuser noun

excuse

2 of 2 noun

ex·​cuse ik-ˈskyüs 

1

: the act of excusing

2

a

: something offered as a reason for being excused

b

: a note that explains an absence

3

: something that excuses or is a reason for excusing

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

excuse

2 of 2 noun

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