excuse

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A reason you give to explain or defend a mistake or failure.

   He gave a weak excuse for being late again.

2. 2
   verb

   To forgive someone for a small mistake.

   Please excuse my poor handwriting.

3. 3
   verb

   To allow someone to leave or to be free from a duty.

   May I be excused from class early today?

4. 4
   verb

   To be a good enough reason for something; to justify.

   Being tired does not excuse such rude behaviour.

Common collocations

• make an excuse Verb + noun
• poor excuse Adjective + noun
• valid excuse Adjective + noun
• weak excuse Adjective + noun
• accept an excuse Verb + noun
• find an excuse Verb + noun

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. Displaced native Old English lād (“an excuse”) and lādian (“to excuse”).

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