excusable

Excusable is an adjective used to describe conduct or circumstances that can be forgiven or that do not warrant blame. It denotes that an error, omission, or action may be justified or permissible given the context, such as extenuating circumstances, lack of intent, or reasonable reliance on information.

Etymology and form: The term comes from Latin excusabilis, from excusare “to excuse,” via Old French. In modern English, the standard spelling is excusable. A less common archaic or nonstandard variant such as excus-able may appear in some texts, but excusable is overwhelmingly preferred in contemporary usage.

Usage and nuances: Excusable is often used to describe actions that, while not ideal, are understandable or forgivable under the circumstances. It is distinct from inexcusable, which signals that the fault is so egregious that no justification suffices. In legal and formal writing, the phrase excusable neglect refers to a failure to meet a duty that may be excused due to inadvertence, confusion, or other mitigating factors. The term also appears in everyday language as in “an excusable mistake” or “excusable delay.”

See also: Excusable neglect, excuse, justification, forgiveness, and extenuation. While related concepts overlap with pardons and apologies, excusable emphasizes the acceptability of the fault given the context rather than a formal remission of liability.