Apology vs. Excuse — What's the Difference?

An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense

In jurisprudence, an excuse is a defense to criminal charges that is distinct from an exculpation. Justification and excuse are different defenses in a criminal case (See Justification and excuse).

A formal justification or defense.

To make allowance for; overlook or forgive

An explanation or excuse

To grant pardon to; forgive

An inferior substitute

To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense

An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).

To explain (a fault or offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood; try to justify

A formal justification, defence.

To serve as justification for

Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt

Something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity.

To give permission to leave; release

An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or injurious remark or act; an admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.

An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.

Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

A reason or grounds for excusing

To offer an apology.

The act of excusing.

An expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone;

A note explaining an absence.

A formal written defense of something you believe in strongly

(Informal) An inferior example

A poor example;

(transitive) To forgive; to pardon.

(transitive) To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.

(transitive) To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.

To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.

Explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.

(legal) A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.

An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.

To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.

To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.

To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.

To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.

To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.

The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.

That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.

That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.

A defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.;

A note explaining an absence;

A poor example;

Accept an excuse for;

Grant exemption or release to;

Serve as a reason or cause or justification of;

Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning;

Ask for permission to be released from an engagement

Excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with;