Excuses are rationalizations we make to ourselves about people, events, and circumstances. They are invented reasons we create to defend our behavior, to postpone taking action or simply as a means of neglecting responsibility.

What does it mean when someone makes excuses?

An excuse is an explanation for something that went wrong. When we give an excuse, we're trying to get someone to cut us some slack. ... If your dog is sick, he has an excuse for barfing in the house. But be careful — making excuses can get awfully close to whining.

Is it human nature to make excuses?

Making excuses for things we're supposed to do is part of human nature. It's part of the psychology of our brains, and, as humans, we're not infallible. Making excuses is like giving yourself green light for taking a day off and evading responsibilities.