Enter a clue or pattern or both:
The Clue
Partial excuse (11 letter answer)
The Answer
EXTENUATION
Tags
Notes
The answer EXTENUATION is so rare that it appears less than once every 2500 puzzles.
Definition
EXTENUATION as a noun:
1. (extenuation, mitigation) = a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
2. (extenuation, mitigation, palliation) = to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious