excusable
/ɪkˈskjuːzəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈskjuːzəbl/ (ame, ipa)
excusable — adjective
- excusablepositive
- more excusablecomparative
- most excusablesuperlative
1. describing a mistake, action, or failure that can reasonably be forgiven, usuall
describing a mistake, action, or failure that can reasonably be forgiven, usually because the person had a good reason or it was not their fault.
Mei-Lin was late because her train broke down, which is an excusable delay.
collocation: excusable delay / excusable mistake
The judge ruled that the officer's error was excusable given the confusing situation.
passive: was excusable given [reason]
Forgetting a friend's birthday once might be excusable, but forgetting it every year is not.
Parking in the wrong space for five minutes is an excusable mistake, so the officer let it go.
- forgivable
more personal and emotional; excusable is slightly more formal
- pardonable
more formal, often used in legal or moral contexts
- understandable
focuses on the reason being clear rather than the fault being forgiven
- inexcusable
the direct opposite; much more common than excusable itself
- unforgivable
stronger emotional weight; implies the fault is beyond any acceptable reason
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal or formal contexts to assess whether a failure was avoidable. The antonym 'inexcusable' is more common in everyday speech.