EXCUSE

(noun) a poor example
"it was an apology for a meal", "a poor excuse for an automobile"
synonyms : apology
(noun) a note explaining an absence
"he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
(noun) a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
"he kept finding excuses to stay", "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job", "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
synonyms : alibi , exculpation , self-justification
(verb) excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with
"excuse someone's behavior", "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"
synonyms : condone
(verb) serve as a reason or cause or justification of
"Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work", "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"
synonyms : explain
(verb) grant exemption or release to
"Please excuse me from this class"
synonyms : exempt , let off , relieve
(verb) ask for permission to be released from an engagement
synonyms : beg off
(verb) defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
"rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior", "he rationalized his lack of success"
synonyms : apologise , apologize , justify , rationalise , rationalize
(verb) accept an excuse for
"Please excuse my dirty hands"
synonyms : pardon

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