excuse

noun [C]

/ɪkˈskjuːs/

Definition

B1 a reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong: He'd better have a good excuse for being late. I've never known him to miss a meeting - I'm sure he'll have an excuse. There's no excuse for that sort of behaviour.Reasons and explanations B1 a false reason that you give to explain why you do something: [+ to infinitive] She was just looking for an excuse to call him. Any excuse for a holiday!Reasons and explanations make your excuses › to explain why you cannot be present somewhere: Please make my excuses at the meeting on Friday.Making and accepting apologiesDefining and explaining make excuses › to give false reasons why you cannot do something: You're always making excuses for not helping me.Defining and explaining

(Definition of excuse noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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