excuse

²ex·cuse

noun \ik-ˈskyüs\

Definition of EXCUSE

1

: the act of excusing

2

a : something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused b plural : an expression of regret for failure to do something c : a note of explanation of an absence

3

: justification, reason

Examples of EXCUSE

1. What's your excuse for being so late?
2. She had no valid excuse for not finishing her homework.
3. He's always making excuses for himself.
4. I made my excuses and left.
5. His birthday gives us a good excuse for a party.

First Known Use of EXCUSE

14th century

Related to EXCUSE

Synonyms: alibi, apology, defense, justification, plea, reason

Related Words: color, guise, pretense (or pretence), pretext, rationale, rationalization, vindication, whitewash; cop-out, out; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), atonement, confession; extenuation, palliation

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See Synonym Discussion at apology

Rhymes with EXCUSE

Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose