self-justification, n.
a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
<noun.communication> freq. cnt.: 10 freq. cnt.: 10
alibi exculpation excuse self-justification
sample sentences
"he kept finding excuses to stay""every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"
"his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
lexical pointers
derivationally related form