excuse

The word “excuse” means to forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault. In plain terms, to forgive or release someone from something — or, as a noun, the reason offered for a mistake.

“Excuse” is pronounced ihk-SKYOOZ (/ɪksˈkjuz/ in IPA).

Here is “excuse” used in a sentence: “Please excuse the mess — we weren't expecting visitors.”

The opposite of “excuse” — its antonyms — are blame and punish.

Depending on how it is used, “excuse” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “excuse” comes from Latin. From Old French excuser, from Latin excusare, "to free from blame" — ex- plus causa ("charge, cause").

“Excuse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Excuse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault.

To excuse is to overlook a minor fault, treating it as too small to matter — 'please excuse the mess.' To forgive is to pardon a more serious wrong and let go of the hurt it caused. Excusing is lighter and everyday; forgiving usually involves a deeper offence and a greater emotional release.

The verb excuse (pronounced ex-CUSE) means to forgive or overlook a fault. The noun excuse (pronounced ex-CUSS) is the reason someone gives to justify or explain a fault, as in 'a poor excuse for being late.' They are spelled the same but pronounced differently and play different roles.

'Excuse me' is a polite phrase with several uses: to get someone's attention, to apologize for a small breach such as interrupting or sneezing, or to ask someone to repeat something. In each case it asks the other person to overlook a minor fault or grant a moment of their attention.