excuse

ex·cuse • v. / ikˈskyoōz/ [tr.] 1. attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify: he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty. ∎  forgive (someone) for a fault or offense: you must excuse my sister. ∎  overlook or forgive (a fault or offense): sit down—excuse the mess. ∎  (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (a person or act): his ability excuses most of his faults. 2. release (someone) from a duty or requirement: it will not be possible to excuse you from jury duty. ∎  (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering: now, if you'll excuse us, we have to be getting along. ∎  (excuse oneself) say politely that one is leaving. ∎  (be excused) (used esp. by school pupils) be allowed to leave the room, esp. to go to the bathroom: please, can I be excused? • n. / ikˈskyoōs/ 1. a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense: there can be no possible excuse for any further delay. ∎  a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; a pretext: they use their hunting as an excuse to get away from their wives. 2. (an excuse for) inf. a poor or inadequate example of: that pathetic excuse for a man! PHRASES: excuse me said politely in various contexts, for example when attempting to get someone's attention, asking someone to move, or interrupting or disagreeing with a speaker. ∎  said when asking someone to repeat what they have just said. make one's excuses say politely that one is leaving or cannot be present.DERIVATIVES: ex·cus·a·ble / -zəbəl/ adj. ex·cus·a·bly / -zəblē/ adv. ex·cus·a·to·ry / -zəˌtôrē/ adj.