excuse
To forgive; to pardon; to overlook.
Verb 4 meanings
To forgive; to pardon; to overlook.
“I excused him his transgressions.”
To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.
“May I be excused from the table?”
To provide an excuse for; to justify.
“You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!”
To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
Noun 3 meanings
An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.
“Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!”
A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.
An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.
“That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?”
Etymology
From Middle English excusen (verb) and excuse (noun), borrowed from Old French escuser (verb) and excuse (noun), from Latin excūsō, excūsāre (“to excuse, allege in excuse, literally, free from a charge”), from ex (“out”) + causa (“a charge”); see cause, accuse and recuse.
Similar and opposite words
EXCUSE at a glance
EXCUSE has 6 letters and scores 15 points in Scrabble (E 1 + X 8 + C 3 + U 1 + S 1 + E 1) and 17 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,618 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with excuse
All rhymesOne letter away
- EXCISE15
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.