What is the meaning of excuse?

noun

• A defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc..
  • usage: "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
• A note explaining an absence.
  • usage: "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
• A poor example.
  • usage: "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile"
  • synonyms: apology

verb

• Accept an excuse for.
  • usage: "Please excuse my dirty hands"
  • synonyms: pardon
• Grant exemption or release to.
  • usage: "Please excuse me from this class"
  • synonyms: relieve, let off, exempt
• Serve as a reason or cause or justification of.
  • usage: "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
• Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning.
  • usage: "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
  • synonyms: apologize, apologise, justify, rationalize, rationalise
• Ask for permission to be released from an engagement.
  • synonyms: beg off
• Excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with.
  • usage: "excuse someone's behavior"; "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"
  • synonyms: condone