Excuse vs. Explanation — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Excuse and Explanation
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Compare with Definitions
Excuse
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).
Explanation
An explanation is a set of statements usually constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined.Explanation, in philosophy, is a set of statements that makes intelligible the existence or occurrence of an object, event, or state of affairs.
Excuse
To make allowance for; overlook or forgive
Please excuse the interruption.
Explanation
The act or process of explaining
Launched into a detailed explanation.
Excuse
To grant pardon to; forgive
We quickly excused the latecomer.
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Explanation
Something that explains
That was supposedly the explanation for their misdeeds.
Excuse
To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense
She excused herself for being late.
Explanation
A mutual clarification of misunderstandings; a reconciliation.
Excuse
To explain (a fault or offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood; try to justify
He arrived late and excused his tardiness by blaming it on the traffic.
Explanation
The act or process of explaining.
The explanation was long and drawn-out.
Excuse
To serve as justification for
Witty talk does not excuse bad manners.
Explanation
Something that explains, makes understandable.
An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.
Excuse
To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt
She was excused from jury duty because she knew the plaintiff.
Explanation
A resolution of disputed points pursuant to discussion; a mutual clarification of disputed points; reconciliation.
Excuse
To give permission to leave; release
The child ate quickly and asked to be excused.
Explanation
The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
Excuse
An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.
Explanation
That which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation.
Excuse
A reason or grounds for excusing
Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.
Explanation
The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.
Different explanations [of the Trinity].
Excuse
The act of excusing.
Explanation
A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation.
Excuse
A note explaining an absence.
Explanation
A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;
The explanation was very simple
I expected a brief account
Excuse
(Informal) An inferior example
A poor excuse for a poet.
A sorry excuse for a car.
Explanation
Thought that makes something comprehensible
Excuse
(transitive) To forgive; to pardon.
I excused him his transgressions.
Explanation
The act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible;
I heard his explanation of the accident
Excuse
(transitive) To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.
May I be excused from the table?
I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.
Excuse
(transitive) To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.
You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!
Excuse
To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
Excuse
Explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.
Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!
Excuse
(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.
Excuse
An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.
That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?
He's a sorry excuse for a doctor.
Excuse
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.
A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not excuse him from guilt in practicing it, if really and indeed it be against Gog's law.
Excuse
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.
I must excuse what can not be amended.
Excuse
To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.
And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.)No whiter page than Addison remains.
Excuse
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.
I pray thee have me excused.
Excuse
To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?
Excuse
The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.
Pleading so wisely in excuse of it.
Excuse
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.
Hence with denial vain and coy excuse.
Excuse
That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.
If eyes were made for seeing.Then beauty is its own excuse for being.
Excuse
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
Excuse
A note explaining an absence;
He had to get his mother to write an excuse for him
Excuse
A poor example;
It was an apology for a meal
A poor excuse for an automobile
Excuse
Accept an excuse for;
Please excuse my dirty hands
Excuse
Grant exemption or release to;
Please excuse me from this class
Excuse
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 amy explain her reluctance to date again
Excuse
Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning;
Rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
He rationalized his lack of success
Excuse
Ask for permission to be released from an engagement
Excuse
Excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with;
Excuse someone's behavior
She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities
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