Attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.
He made some excuse about a dentist’s appointment and left.
He tried to excuse his tardiness by explaining the unexpected traffic on the way to the office.
The defendant's lawyer attempted to excuse the actions of their client by emphasizing extenuating circumstances.
Instead of apologizing, he tended to excuse his mistakes by blaming external factors.
The spokesperson attempted to excuse the company's error by citing a miscommunication within the team.
