Definitions:

1. a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise noun
   • I kept finding excuses to stay.
2. a note explaining an absence noun
   • I had to get my parents to write an excuse for me.
3. accept an excuse for verb
   • Please excuse my dirty hands
4. grant exemption or release to verb
   • Please excuse me from this class
5. serve as a reason or cause or justification of verb
   • Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work

Synonyms:

• apologise
• apologize
• apology
• beg off
• condone
• exculpation
• exempt
• explain
• justify
• pardon
• rationalise
• rationalize

NearBy Words:

• excused
• excuser