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🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

excuse

Pronunciation / Transliteration: ɛkˈskyːz

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Excuse/ɪkˈskjuːz/
nounverbCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #2500 frequency
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🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"Elle avait une excuse valable pour son retard."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense.

    "She had a valid excuse for being late to the meeting."
As verb
  1. 1

    To release someone from a duty or requirement.

    "The teacher excused the students from homework due to the snowstorm."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'excusare', meaning to release from a charge or excuse, composed of 'ex-' (out of, from) and 'causa' (cause, lawsuit, reason). It entered the English language during the Middle English period via Old French 'excuser', shifting in meaning from seeking legal absolution to offering reasons or justifications for shortcomings.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

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Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Excuse"

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