1. (

• excuse ,
• alibi ,
• exculpation ,
• self-justification

) 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" ;

2. (

• exculpation

) the act of freeing from guilt or blame ;