seek to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offence); try to justify

he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty

release (someone) from a duty or requirement

it will not be possible to excuse you from attendance

may I be excused hockey?

a reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offence

there can be no excuse for any further delay

the excuse that half the team failed to turn up

a poor or inadequate example of

that pathetic excuse for a man!