Excuse vs. Explanation — What's the Difference?

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

An analysis or elucidation of a cause or reason.

Something said to obtain forgiveness or mitigate disappointment.

A statement or account that makes something clear.

A pretext or subterfuge used to evade a responsibility.

A process of clarifying or interpreting something.

An explanation that releases one from a duty or requirement.

A reason or justification given for an action or belief.

A plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, accusation, or charge.

A resolution or interpretation of a problem or mystery.

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).

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.

To make allowance for; overlook or forgive

The act or process of explaining

To grant pardon to; forgive

Something that explains

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

A mutual clarification of misunderstandings; a reconciliation.

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

The act or process of explaining.

To serve as justification for

Something that explains, makes understandable.

To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt

A resolution of disputed points pursuant to discussion; a mutual clarification of disputed points; reconciliation.

To give permission to leave; release

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.

An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.

That which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation.

A reason or grounds for excusing

The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.

The act of excusing.

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.

A note explaining an absence.

A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;

(Informal) An inferior example

Thought that makes something comprehensible

(transitive) To forgive; to pardon.

The act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible;

(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;

Yes, when an explanation is used to justify wrongful actions, it can function as an excuse.

An excuse is a reason or explanation made to justify a shortcoming or fault.

An explanation is information or details given to make something understandable.

Explanations are crucial in education for clarifying concepts and correcting misunderstandings.

An excuse aims to deflect blame or responsibility, whereas an explanation aims to provide understanding without necessarily deflecting blame.

Excuses can affect credibility and the way others perceive one’s reliability and honesty.

Generally, providing an explanation is viewed more positively as it seeks to clarify and inform rather than deflect responsibility.

A good explanation is clear, logical, detailed, and supported by facts or evidence.

Not always, but they often have a negative connotation because they can be seen as evasive.

By focusing on facts and accountability rather than justification or defense.

People use excuses to mitigate responsibility, avoid negative consequences, or protect their self-esteem.