Excuse Meaning
Excuse Definition & Usage
A reason or explanation given to justify a mistake, failure, or behavior, often used to avoid blame or responsibility.
Examples
- "I couldn’t finish the project on time because of unforeseen circumstances, but that’s my excuse."
- "She gave a long excuse for being late to the meeting."
- "His excuse for not attending the event was that he was feeling unwell."
- "They made excuses for why the report wasn’t submitted, but no one believed them."
- "I don’t want to hear excuses, just solutions!"
To forgive or pardon someone for a mistake or behavior.
Examples
- "I excused him for his rude comment, knowing he didn’t mean it."
- "The teacher excused the student for being late due to traffic."
- "She excused his behavior, understanding he was under stress."
- "Please excuse my appearance; I’ve been working all day."
- "Can you excuse me for a moment? I need to take this call."
To allow someone to be absent from an obligation or duty.
Examples
- "The manager excused John from the meeting because he was sick."
- "I was excused from jury duty because of my work commitments."
- "She excused herself from the dinner early to catch her flight."
- "They excused the student from the final exam due to medical reasons."
- "The teacher excused all students from homework over the holidays."
Cultural Context
The word 'excuse' originates from the Latin 'excusare', meaning 'to free from blame'. Over time, its meaning evolved to cover justifications for actions, both positive and negative, as well as acts of forgiveness or permission to be absent from duties. It is common in both formal and informal settings to use excuses as a way of explaining, justifying, or seeking forgiveness.
The Art of Excuses
Story
The Art of Excuses
Samantha was running late again. Her boss, Mr. Thompson, had warned her countless times that punctuality was crucial, but today, as she rushed through the front door of the office, she knew she'd need a good excuse. ‘Traffic,’ she thought, ‘it’s always traffic.’ She approached her desk and immediately apologized, offering her standard excuse. But today, Mr. Thompson wasn’t buying it. ‘I’ve heard that excuse before,’ he said, raising an eyebrow. ‘Samantha, it’s not just about being late. It’s about consistency and reliability.’ Later that afternoon, Samantha excused herself from a meeting when her phone buzzed. It was her mother, who needed help with a family matter. With a polite ‘Excuse me, I need to take this,’ she stepped out of the room. When she returned, she found that her absence had been noted. ‘Don’t worry,’ her coworker whispered, ‘no one’s upset. You had a legitimate excuse.’ That evening, as she prepared dinner, she reflected on her day. Sometimes, it seemed like all she did was come up with excuses to explain her shortcomings. But as she thought about her boss’s words, she realized that justifying her actions wouldn’t get her anywhere. What she needed wasn’t just excuses, but real solutions. In the end, Samantha decided to be more accountable, to find ways to show up on time, and to apologize when she made mistakes instead of relying on excuses. The next day, she was early for work and gave a genuine explanation for her past behavior. Her boss noticed. ‘That’s all we need,’ he said with a nod, ‘just some honesty and commitment. No more excuses.’
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