Definition: a poor example
Usage: it was an apology for a meal; a poor excuse for an automobile
Main entry: excuse
Definition: a note explaining an absence
Usage: he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him
Main entry: alibi, self-justification, exculpation, excuse
Definition: a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
Usage: he kept finding excuses to stay; every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job; his transparent self-justification was unacceptable
Definition: excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with
Usage: excuse someone's behavior; She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities
Definition: serve as a reason or cause or justification of
Usage: Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work; Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again
Main entry: excuse, exempt, relieve, let off
Definition: grant exemption or release to
Usage: Please excuse me from this class
Definition: ask for permission to be released from an engagement
Main entry: rationalise, rationalize, justify, apologise, apologize, excuse
Definition: defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
Usage: rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior; he rationalized his lack of success
Definition: accept an excuse for
Usage: Please excuse my dirty hands