Excusatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Serving to provide a reason or justification that may absolve someone of blame or wrongdoing
2. Related to explanations or statements intended to defend or justify actions or decisions, often in seeking forgiveness
3. Functioning to offer justification or reasoning aimed at mitigating blame or responsibility for an action or event

Etymology: In Latin, "causa" originally meant a legal case or accusation rather than a reason. The verb "excusare" joined "ex-", meaning "out of," with that legal sense, so to excuse someone was to free them from a charge. Only later did English use the word for the reasons offered to clear oneself of blame. "Excusatory" comes from the Latin "excusatorius," an adjective meaning serving to excuse. English formed its adjective from the same Latin base, and the word describes things that work toward that end, such as a statement that offers a reason to be cleared of fault.

Synonyms: justificatory, exculpatory