- (v.t.) To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.
- (v.t.) To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.
- (v.t.) That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.
- (v.t.) The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.
- (v.t.) To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
- (v.t.) To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.
- (v.t.) That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.
- (v.t.) To free from accusation or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). excuse. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/excuse/definitions/2005746 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "excuse" http://smartdefine.org/excuse/definitions/2005746 (accessed September 23, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, excuse, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/excuse/definitions/2005746>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "excuse" 27 May 2011. Web. 23 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/excuse/definitions/2005746> |