abuse excuse

noun

A self-defense claim based on the idea that, because of being the victim of long-term abuse, a defendant was unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

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Meanings

nounabuse excuse (plural abuse excuses)

plural abuse excuses

  1. derogatoryinformallawA self-defense claim based on the idea that, because of being the victim of long-term abuse, a defendant was unable to distinguish between right and wrong.
Cite this entry
APA

abuse excuse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20excuse

MLA

“abuse excuse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20excuse. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abuse excuse,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20excuse.

Source: abuse excuse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.