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1. A defence of some offensive behaviour or some failure to keep a promise etc.
   "he kept finding excuses to stay"
   - alibi, exculpation, self-justification
    
2. A note explaining an absence
   "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
    
3. A poor example
   "a poor excuse for an automobile"
   - apology

1. Accept an excuse for
   "Please excuse my dirty hands"
   - pardon
    
2. Grant exemption or release to
   "Please excuse me from this class"
   - relieve, let off, exempt
    
3. Serve as a reason or cause or justification of
   "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"
   - explain
    
4. Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
   - apologize, apologise [Brit], justify, rationalize, rationalise [Brit]
    
5. Ask for permission to be released from an engagement
   - beg off
    
6. Excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with
   "excuse someone's behaviour"
   - condone

Derived forms: excuses, excused, excusing

See also: excusatory, excuser

Type of: absolve, bespeak, billet, call for, defence [Brit, Cdn], defend, defense [US], example, fend for, forgive, free, illustration, instance, justify, line, note, pardon, quest, representative, request, short letter, support, vindicate, vindication

Encyclopedia: Excuse