excused; excusing
1
a
: to make apology for
b
: to try to remove blame from
2
: to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable
graciously excused his tardiness
3
a
: to grant exemption or release to
was excused from jury duty
b
: to allow to leave
excused the class
4
: to serve as excuse for : justify
nothing can excuse such neglect
excusableness
noun
excuser
noun
Examples of excuse in a Sentence
Verb
His boss excused the mistake but told him to be more careful next time.
Please excuse me for not calling sooner.
I was excused from jury duty.
The teacher excused the class from homework that day.
Nothing can excuse that kind of rudeness.
Her father's illness excused her absence.
Noun
What's your excuse for being so late?
She had no valid excuse for not finishing her homework.
He's always making excuses for himself.
I made my excuses and left.
His birthday gives us a good excuse for a party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
After Politico reported that Young Republicans expressed outrageously racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic sentiments, Vice President JD Vance excused it as just the edgy chat of young activists.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Trump’s pressure can provide him with domestic political cover and an excuse for concessions his coalition would never otherwise accept.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excuse
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Their cry is not against the faith itself but against distorted theology that excuses cruelty.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
After Politico reported that Young Republicans expressed outrageously racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic sentiments, Vice President JD Vance excused it as just the edgy chat of young activists.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
But an opaque supply chain is no excuse for not knowing exactly what’s in your products.
—Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Trump’s pressure can provide him with domestic political cover and an excuse for concessions his coalition would never otherwise accept.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excuse
Cite this Entry
“Excuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excuse. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
excuse
1 of 2 verb
ex·cuse
ik-ˈskyüz 
excused; excusing
1
: to make apology for
excused myself for being late
2
: to overlook or dismiss as of little importance
excuse a mistake
3
a
: to release from doing something
excused the class from homework
b
: to allow to leave
excused the sick student from class
4
: to be an acceptable reason for : justify
nothing excuses bad manners
excuse
2 of 2 noun
ex·cuse
ik-ˈskyüs
1
: the act of excusing
2
a
: something offered as a reason for being excused
b
: a note that explains an absence
3
: something that excuses or is a reason for excusing
Legal Definition
excuse
2 of 2 noun
ex·cuse
ik-ˈskyüs
1
: excusal
2
a
: 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
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