Excuse

An excuse is a reason or explanation that you give to justify a fault, offense, or mistake, or to avoid blame or punishment. It can also be a reason given to avoid doing something. Excuses often involve providing a less serious reason for an action or inaction, potentially minimizing responsibility or conveying a desire to avoid discomfort or negative consequences. The validity of an excuse can vary greatly, and it's often assessed based on the context and perceived honesty of the explanation. Excuses serve to mitigate social repercussions and maintain relationships. They can sometimes be genuine, offering a sincere explanation, or disingenuous, providing a fabrication to evade accountability.

Excuse meaning with examples

• Sarah offered a heartfelt excuse for missing the meeting: a sudden family emergency. Her colleagues, understanding the gravity of the situation, readily accepted her explanation. The genuine nature of her excuse was apparent, fostering empathy and preserving her professional standing. This contrasted with common use of excuses.
• He fabricated an excuse about car trouble to avoid the tedious task of helping his neighbor move. His elaborate story was initially convincing, but later, the contradictions made his lie apparent. The neighbor, though initially accepting, grew skeptical, recognizing the deceit. This strained their friendship, demonstrating negative effects of a bad excuse.
• The student provided a detailed excuse for the late assignment, citing an unexpected illness. While the teacher listened politely, it was obvious that she thought he had lied. She requested a doctor’s note, setting a higher standard for the excuse and implying skepticism of his explanation. This created an imbalance.
• Despite his frequent tardiness, John always had an excuse, whether it was traffic delays, forgotten alarm clocks, or unexpected phone calls. His colleagues became increasingly exasperated, doubting the sincerity of his justifications. This ultimately led to strained relationships and suspicion within the workplace, eroding trust.