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 - his transparent self-justification was unacceptable • Syn: excuse, alibi, exculpation • Derivationally related forms: alibi (for: alibi), excuse (for: excuse) • Hypernyms: defense, defence, vindication • Hyponyms: extenuation, mitigation
