Self-justification; making excuses or defending one's actions or statements when criticized.
彼は記者会見で自己弁護に終始し、謝罪はほとんどしなかった。
At the press conference he mostly defended himself and hardly apologized.
自己弁護のために事実を誇張するのは避けるべきだ。
One should avoid exaggerating facts in order to justify oneself.
批判に対する自己弁護よりまず相手の話を聞くべきだ。
Rather than immediately defending oneself against criticism, you should first listen to the other person.