excuse

1 :  the act of excusing

2a :  something offered as justification or as grounds for being excusedb excuses plural :  an expression of regret for failure to do somethingc :  a note of explanation of an absence

3 :  justification, reason

1 :  to make apology for I excused myself for being late.

2 :  to overlook or pardon as of little importance “You must excuse my gruff conduct,” the watchdog said … — Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

3 :  to let off from doing something He was excused from chores for a week.

4 :  to be an acceptable reason for Nothing excuses bad manners.

1 :  a reason given for having done something wrong What's your excuse for being so late?

2 :  something that is an acceptable reason for or justifies There is no excuse for bad behavior.

3 :  a reason for doing something That's a good excuse for a party.

1 :  to grant exemption or release to excused the prospective juror excused the witness after an hour of testimony

2 :  justify

:  to serve as an excuse or justification exigent circumstances may excuse — J. J. White and R. S. Summers

1 :  excusal

2a :  a circumstance that allows for release under the law from an obligation, duty, or contractual liability — compare act of god, force majeure, fortuitous event, impossibility of performance b :  a circumstance (as a physical threat) that grants immunity for otherwise tortious or criminal conduct — compare justification, privilege