excused

Excused is the past participle of the verb excuse and, as an adjective, describes someone or something freed from blame, obligation, or duty because of justification or permission. In everyday use, being excused means that an action or absence has been approved or deemed acceptable, rather than improper or unauthorized.

In educational settings, an excused absence is one approved by the school for reasons such as illness or a family emergency, and it typically does not count against a student’s attendance. An unexcused absence lacks authorization and may carry consequences. In the workplace, an employee may be excused from duties due to illness, a personal emergency, or approved leave; an excused absence is generally recorded as authorized time off.

Other contexts include legal or formal settings, where a person may be excused from jury duty, a meeting, or another obligation if permitted by rules or judgment. The term also appears in the verb form to request politeness or to justify a disruption, as in “excuse me,” which serves as a courteous preface or apology, rather than a statement about fault or exemption.

Etymology and nuances: excused derives from the Latin excūsāre, from ex- “out” + causa “a cause, reason,” reflecting the idea of freeing someone from blame or obligation by presenting a reason or justification. In everyday language, the distinction between an excuse and an apology can be subtle, with an excuse focusing on justification and an apology on remorse.