excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

EXCUSE definition: 1. to forgive someone or something: 2. to allow someone not to do or attend something when they…. Learn more.

Definition of excuse noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour. Late again! What's your excuse this …

People often say Excuse me as a way of politely apologizing for something they are going to do. For example, you can say Excuse me when you are interrupting someone, when you want to get their …

to release from an obligation, responsibility, or duty: to be excused from jury duty. an instance or act of excusing: I don't want to hear any more of your excuses. a ground or reason for excusing or being …

Apr 5, 2026 · excuse (countable and uncountable, plural excuses) (countable, uncountable) An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of …

Explanation An excuse is an explanation for something that went wrong. When we give an excuse, we're trying to get someone to cut us some slack. When you finish dinner and ask, "May I be excused?" …

An excuse is a reason which you give in order to explain why something has been done or has not been done, or in order to avoid doing something.

Excuse definition: To serve as justification for.

• I'm sorry, but that explanation doesn't excuse what he did. excuse somebody for (doing) something • No excuses were offered for a lacklustre performance on Saturday.