Excuse

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: Ä­kskyoÍžoz', IPA: /ɪkˈskjuːz/, /É›ksˈkjuːz/
• US enPR: Ä­kskyoÍžoz', IPA: /ɪksˈkjuz/
• Rhymes: -uːz

• UK enPR: Ä­kskyoÍžos', IPA: /ɪkˈskjuːs/, /É›ksˈkjuːs/
• US enPR: Ä­kskyoÍžos', IPA: /ɪksˈkjus/
• Rhymes: -uːs

Origin

From Middle English excusen, from Old French escuser, from Latin excūsō ("to excuse, allege in excuse, literally, free from a charge"), from ex ("out") + causa ("a charge"); see cause and accuse.

Full definition of excuse

Verb

1. (transitive) To forgive; to pardon.I excused him his transgressions.
• ShakespeareI must excuse what cannot be amended.
• Archbishop SharpA man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not excuse him from guilt in practising it, if really and indeed it be against God's law.
2. (transitive) To allow to leave.May I be excused from the table?I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.
3. (transitive) To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!
4. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
• Bible, 2. Corinthians xii. 19Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?

Synonyms

• (to release from guilt, shame, or punishment) forgive, let off the hook, let pass, pardon, unguilt

Derived terms

• excuse me
• excuse my French

Noun

1. An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment.Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!
2. (legal) 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.
3. (with negative adjective prepositioned, especially sorry or poor) An example.That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?He's a sorry excuse of a doctor.

Usage notes

We often say to make an excuse.

Synonyms

• (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment): pretext