1. a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc. - he kept finding excuses to stay - every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job - his transparent self-justification was unacceptable • Syn: excuse, alibi, self-justification • Derivationally related forms: alibi (for: alibi), excuse (for: excuse) • Hypernyms: defense, defence, vindication • Hyponyms: extenuation, mitigation 2. the act of freeing from guilt or blame • Derivationally related forms: exculpate • Hypernyms: forgiveness, pardon
