excuse

noun

1
a poor example
it was an apology for a meal
a poor excuse for an automobile
2
a note explaining an absence
he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him
3
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

1
excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with
excuse someone's behavior
She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities
2
serve as a reason or cause or justification of
Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work
Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again
3
grant exemption or release to
Please excuse me from this class
4
ask for permission to be released from an engagement
5
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
he rationalized his lack of success
6
accept an excuse for
Please excuse my dirty hands

Also useful for “excuse”:Scrabble— High-value letters — see what it scores