excuse
excuse — noun
1. a statement you make to account for a mistake or fault you committed, regardless
a statement you make to account for a mistake or fault you committed, regardless of whether it is honest or made up.
Amira's excuse for being late was that her train had been delayed by an hour.
excuse + for + being late; that-clause after 'was'
The child came up with a clever excuse about a broken alarm clock.
collocation: came up with an excuse
When the manager asked about the missing report, Pedro had no real excuse to offer.
Élise accepted his excuse for forgetting her birthday, though she still felt hurt.
collocation: accept an excuse
A doctor's note is often required as a valid excuse for missing an exam at university.
- valid excuse
- make an excuse
- have an excuse
- accept an excuse
- excuse for
- lame excuse
- reason
broader term — a reason can explain anything, not just wrongdoing (the reason it rained / the reason she smiled).
- justification
stronger and more formal — suggests the person believes they were right ('His actions had no moral justification').
- defense
implies arguing against an accusation, often in a formal setting ('The lawyer prepared a strong defense').
Grammar Patterns
excuse + for + noun/gerund
excuse + that-clause
Usage Note
This sense covers both genuine and invented reasons. To specify that the reason is false, use sense 2 (PRETEXT) or the expression 'make excuses'.
Common Mistakes
2. an invented or stretched reason that conceals your true motive for acting or not
an invented or stretched reason that conceals your true motive for acting or not acting in a certain way.
Ari used the conference as an excuse to spend a weekend in Tokyo with old friends.
excuse to + infinitive for hidden motive
Shirin pretended she had a headache, but it was just an excuse to leave the party early.
Bao claimed he needed to study, which was really an excuse to avoid helping his brother move house.
excuse to avoid + gerund
The dog ate my homework is probably the oldest excuse a teacher has ever heard.
Xiu's frequent business trips became a convenient excuse for not visiting her parents.
collocation: convenient excuse
- convenient excuse
- lame excuse
- thin excuse
- an excuse to
- as an excuse for
- use something as an excuse
- pretext
more formal and stronger sense of falsehood ('He left early on the pretext of a family emergency').
- cover
informal; suggests hiding something secret or shameful ('The charity was just a cover for money laundering').
- alibi
specifically a claim of being elsewhere when something happened ('He had a perfect alibi for the night of the robbery').
Grammar Patterns
excuse + to + infinitive
an excuse for + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1 (REASON FOR WRONG), this sense always implies the reason is dishonest. The speaker is using the excuse as a cover.
Common Mistakes
3. an explanation you give for not being able to go somewhere or attend an event, e
an explanation you give for not being able to go somewhere or attend an event, especially when you have a duty to be there.
Christopher sent a brief excuse to his boss saying he would miss the Monday meeting.
collocation: send/offer an excuse
All students need a written excuse from a parent if they miss three or more days of school.
The senator made her excuses and left the banquet before the main speech began.
fixed expression: make one's excuses
Ritu phoned in her excuse for missing choir practice half an hour before it started.
phone in an excuse
- make your excuses
- offer an excuse
- send an excuse
- written excuse
- excuse for absence
- apology
expresses regret rather than a neutral explanation ('I owe you an apology for missing your party').
- explanation
broader and more neutral — no suggestion of wrongdoing or fault ('She gave a simple explanation for her absence').
Grammar Patterns
excuse for + noun
make your excuses
Usage Note
Common in formal and semi-formal contexts where attendance is expected (school, work, meetings). The noun can be uncountable in the phrase 'by way of excuse'.
Common Mistakes
4. untrue or exaggerated reasons you repeatedly give to avoid doing something you s
untrue or exaggerated reasons you repeatedly give to avoid doing something you should do, often seen as a character flaw.
Caio kept making excuses about why he could not finish the project on time.
fixed phrase: make excuses about + why-clause
Stop making excuses and just tell me the truth about what happened last night.
Her teacher grew tired of her constant excuses for not handing in homework assignments.
collocation: constant excuses
Ilan always has an excuse ready when it is time to clean the kitchen after dinner.
- make excuses
- stop making excuses
- constant excuses
- another excuse
- always an excuse
- excuses for
- cop-out
very informal, slang ('Quit your cop-out and just do the work').
- run away from responsibility
descriptive phrase rather than a single word, but captures the same idea.
Grammar Patterns
make excuses
stop making excuses
Usage Note
Almost always in the plural ('excuses') and paired with 'make'. Carries a negative judgment — the speaker implies the person is avoiding responsibility.
Common Mistakes
5. a short written statement from a doctor, parent, or official that explains why y
a short written statement from a doctor, parent, or official that explains why you were absent from school or work.
Putri handed her teacher a doctor's excuse explaining she had been ill with the flu.
collocation: doctor's excuse
The company requires a written excuse for any absence longer than three working days.
Yan forgot to get a parent's excuse for the field trip permission form.
collocation: parent's excuse
Without a valid excuse from a clinic, the school counts the day as an unexcused absence.
- doctor's excuse
- written excuse
- parent's excuse
- valid excuse
- provide an excuse
- sick note
informal term for the same document, common in British English ('Bring a sick note from your GP').
- doctor's note
most common US term, neutral register.
Grammar Patterns
a/the doctor's excuse
a parent's excuse
Usage Note
This is a physical document, not a verbal explanation. Often called a 'doctor's note' in less formal US English. In British schools, the term 'sick note' is common.
6. a person or thing considered a very disappointing or low-quality example of its
a person or thing considered a very disappointing or low-quality example of its kind.
That broken-down old van is a pathetic excuse for a delivery vehicle.
pattern: a pathetic excuse for a + noun
The hotel turned out to be a poor excuse for a five-star resort, with dirty rooms and cold food.
Ava called him a sorry excuse for a teammate after he missed three practices in a row.
collocation: sorry excuse for a + noun
What an excuse for a wedding cake — it was dry and barely had any icing on top.
- poor excuse for a
- sorry excuse for a
- pathetic excuse for a
- excuse for a
Grammar Patterns
a poor excuse for a + noun
what an excuse for a + noun
Usage Note
Always used in the structure 'a [adjective] excuse for a [noun]'. Common adjectives: poor, sorry, pathetic, lame, miserable. Strongly negative and expressive.
Common Mistakes
excuse — verb
1. to forgive someone for a small mistake, rude action, or failure, choosing not to
to forgive someone for a small mistake, rude action, or failure, choosing not to be angry about it.
Please excuse my younger sister for spilling juice on your carpet — she did not mean to.
excuse + person + for + gerund
The director excused the intern's error because it was his first week on the job.
We excused her lateness after she explained that the bus had broken down on the highway.
excuse + someone's + noun
You can be excused for not knowing the answer — the question was extremely difficult.
passive: be excused for + gerund
Tunde excused his friend's rude joke, knowing it came from nervousness, not malice.
- excuse someone for
- excuse a mistake
- excuse bad behavior
- please excuse
- forgive
stronger and more emotional — used for serious wrongs, not just minor social mistakes ('She forgave him for lying') .
- overlook
implies deliberately choosing not to notice a fault ('I'll overlook the mistake this time').
- pardon
more formal, often in legal or official contexts ('The governor pardoned the prisoner').
Grammar Patterns
excuse + person + for + noun/gerund
be excused for + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Weaker than 'forgive' — excusing often means overlooking a minor fault rather than truly forgiving a serious wrong. Strongly associated with polite social situations.
Common Mistakes
2. to grant someone permission to skip a duty or activity they would ordinarily hav
to grant someone permission to skip a duty or activity they would ordinarily have to take part in, such as a class, a meeting, or a payment.
The doctor excused the patient from gym class for the rest of the semester.
excuse + person + from + noun
Students who already speak French fluently may be excused from the beginner language course.
passive: be excused from + noun
The judge excused the witness from testifying after learning she had a medical emergency.
Aarav asked his boss to excuse him from the late shift because his daughter was unwell.
excuse + someone + from + noun phrase
Church members over the age of seventy are excused from volunteering at the annual fundraiser.
- excuse from
- be excused from
- excuse someone from duty
- excuse from class
- excused absence
Grammar Patterns
excuse + person + from + noun/gerund
be excused from + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Always takes 'from' to indicate what the person is released from. Passive voice is extremely common ('be excused from'). This sense is more formal than sense 1 (FORGIVE).
Common Mistakes
3. a polite phrase you say before speaking to a stranger, entering a conversation,
a polite phrase you say before speaking to a stranger, entering a conversation, or getting someone's attention in a shop, office, or public place.
Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest subway station is located?
formula: Excuse me + polite request
Excuse me, I believe you dropped your wallet when you got off the bus just now.
A woman at the reception desk said, Excuse me, are you here for the job interview?
Excuse me, do you have a moment to answer a few questions about our service?
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me, ...
Usage Note
Use a rising or neutral tone. This is the standard polite opener in British and American English when approaching someone you do not know. 'Sorry' is sometimes used similarly in British English.
Common Mistakes
4. a polite expression you say when you need someone to step aside so you can pass
a polite expression you say when you need someone to step aside so you can pass through a narrow or busy space.
Excuse me, I need to get to the window to buy my train ticket before it closes.
Excuse me + explanation of need
Takeshi said excuse me as he squeezed past the woman with the baby stroller in the aisle.
Excuse me, could you please step aside so I can reach the shelf behind you?
Riders on the crowded train murmured excuse me as they moved toward the exit doors.
third-person narrative use of the expression
- pardon me
common alternative in North America.
- coming through
very informal, often used playfully or in crowded parties.
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me, ... (in a crowd)
Excuse me (as a polite command)
Usage Note
Tone matters here — a flat or curt 'excuse me' can sound annoyed. Add a smile or 'please' to keep it genuinely polite. In British English 'sorry' is also used ('Sorry, can I just get past?').
5. a polite expression you say to let someone know you are about to leave a convers
a polite expression you say to let someone know you are about to leave a conversation, room, or event before they expect you to.
Excuse me, I have to leave early today because my son has a doctor's appointment.
Excuse me + stated reason for leaving
Yael stood up and said, If you will excuse me, I have a train to catch across town.
more formal: if you will excuse me
Please excuse me, everyone — I need to take this phone call from my manager.
The ambassador excused himself from the dinner table to attend to urgent diplomatic matters.
formal: excuse oneself
- take one's leave
very formal, used in official or old-fashioned contexts.
- head out
informal alternative ('I think I'll head out now').
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me + brief reason
(If you'll) excuse me, ...
Usage Note
In formal settings 'if you will excuse me' or 'please excuse me' is standard. In informal contexts, people often just say 'I've got to go' or 'I'm off'.
6. a polite expression you use to apologize for a minor accident, interruption, or
a polite expression you use to apologize for a minor accident, interruption, or social mistake, such as bumping into someone, sneezing, or making a small noise.
Oh, excuse me — I did not see you standing there with your tray of drinks.
Hoa said excuse me after accidentally stepping on her seatmate's foot in the cinema.
third-person use of the fixed expression
The waiter excused himself as he reached across the table to refill the water glasses.
formal: excuse oneself for an interruption
Please excuse my messy handwriting — I wrote this note while riding on the bus.
excuse + possessive + noun (apologizing for a thing)
Imani let out a loud sneeze during the meeting and quickly whispered, excuse me, to her colleagues.
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me.
Excuse + possessive + noun
Usage Note
For minor accidents, 'excuse me' is the standard polite response. For more serious offenses, use 'I'm sorry' or 'I apologize' instead. 'Excuse my French' is an idiom meaning 'forgive my swearing'.
Common Mistakes
7. a polite expression you use before stating a different opinion or correcting som
a polite expression you use before stating a different opinion or correcting someone, especially in a formal discussion or debate.
Excuse me, but I think the data actually supports a very different conclusion from yours.
formula: Excuse me, but + conflicting viewpoint
Excuse me for saying so, but I believe that plan has several serious flaws we need to address.
Excuse me, but you are mistaken about the date — the deadline is next Friday, not tomorrow.
Tamás politely said, Excuse me, but I must disagree with what was just said about the budget cuts.
- with all due respect
more formal and deferential; used in official settings.
- I beg to differ
formal, politer way of expressing disagreement.
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me, but ...
Usage Note
This use of 'excuse me' can sound confrontational depending on tone. In British English it often signals stronger disagreement than in American English. Keep your voice calm and neutral.
Common Mistakes
8. a polite expression you say with a rising tone when you want somebody to say aga
a polite expression you say with a rising tone when you want somebody to say again what they just said, because you failed to hear or follow it.
Excuse me? I could not hear what you said over the noise of the air conditioner.
Excuse me? with rising tone + explanation
Lucía said, Excuse me? when her colleague mumbled something about the meeting time.
Excuse me, I did not catch your name — could you please say it one more time?
Excuse me + polite re-request
Excuse me? Are you saying the flight has been cancelled or just delayed till evening?
- sorry?
standard British English for asking repetition; informal.
- pardon?
slightly old-fashioned but still used in British English.
- come again?
very informal, common in American English.
Grammar Patterns
Excuse me?
Excuse me + question
Usage Note
Rising intonation is essential — without it, 'Excuse me?' can sound like a challenge or expression of disbelief. In informal American English, 'Sorry?' or 'Come again?' is common.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- excusableadjectiveC1
- inexcusableadjectiveC1
- excusablyadverbC1
- inexcusablyadverbC1
- unexcusedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words explain why something happened, but they differ in honesty and context. A reason is the most neutral word — it can be true or false and covers any cause or explanation ('The reason for the delay was heavy traffic'). An excuse is a reason given specifically for a fault or failure, often implying the speaker doubts its truth ('He made a weak excuse about his dog eating the homework'). A justification is a formal, defensive reason meant to prove the action was right ('The company published a justification for the price increase'). A pretext is always false — a cover story that hides the real motive ('She left early on the pretext of a headache, but really she was bored'). An alibi is a very specific type of excuse: proof that someone was elsewhere when a crime occurred ('The suspect had a solid alibi — he was at a restaurant with friends'). Choose 'reason' for neutral explanations, 'excuse' when fault is involved, 'justification' in formal defense contexts, 'pretext' for clear deception, and 'alibi' for crime-related situations.
Common collocations
Nouns
- excuse note
- excuse letter
- excuse maker
Adverbs
Phrases
- make an excuse
- have an excuse
- find an excuse
- offer an excuse
- accept an excuse
- reject an excuse
- excuse for
- excuse from
Etymology
Excuse came into English through Old French 'escuser' in the 1200s, originally meaning 'to free from a charge or blame'. The French word came from Latin 'excusare', which combined 'ex-' (meaning 'out of, away from') and 'causa' (meaning 'cause, reason, accusation'). So literally, to excuse someone was to free them from an accusation by giving a reason. Over time, the word developed two paths: the verb kept the sense of forgiving or releasing someone from an obligation, while the noun emerged as the reason given to achieve that release. The negative use — 'a poor excuse for something' — appeared in the 1700s.