To offer an excuse or apology for: often reflexively.To furnish or serve as an excuse or apology for; serve as justification for; justify.To pardon, as a fault; forgive entirely, or overlook as venial or not blameworthy.To free or release from an obligation or duty; release by favor.To remit; refrain from exacting: as, to excuse a fine.To regard, permit, or receive with indulgence.To shield from blame.Synonyms To extenuate.To exempt, release, let off.n. The act of excusing or apologizing, exculpating or justifying.n. A plea offered or reason given in extenuation of a fault or a failure in duty; an apology; as, the debtor makes excuses for delay of payment.n. That which serves as a reason or ground for excusing; an extenuating or justifying fact or argument, or what is adduced as such by way of apology or to secure pardon.n. Synonyms Apology, Excuse, Plea. See apology.