Meaning

• Explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.

  "Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!"

• A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.

• (with preceding negative adjective, especially sorry, poor or lame) An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.

  "He's a sorry excuse of a doctor."

Meaning

• To forgive; to pardon.

  "I excused him his transgressions."

• To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.

  "I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard."

• To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.

  "You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!"

• To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.