Dictionary entries for 'excuse'

Synonyms

ex·cuse (ĭk-skyōōź)

[Middle English excusen, from Old French excuser, from Latin excūsāre, ex-, ex-, + causa, accusation; see cause.]

transitive verb: -cused, -cus·ing, -cus·es.

1. To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner.
2. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late.
1. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.
2. To make allowance for; overlook: Readers must excuse the author's youth and inexperience. See synonyms at forgive
To serve as justification for: Brilliance does not excuse bad manners.
To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt: In my state, physicians and lawyers are excused from jury duty.
To give permission to leave; release: The child ate quickly and asked to be excused.

An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.
A reason or grounds for excusing: Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.
The act of excusing.
A note explaining an absence.
Informal An inferior example: a poor excuse for a poet; a sorry excuse for a car.

Excuse me: Used to acknowledge and ask forgiveness for an action that could cause offense. Used to request that a statement be repeated.