apology

• apologie (archaic)

From French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defence”), from ἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoûmai, “I speak in my defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), from ἀπό (apó, “from, off”) (see apo-) + λόγος (lógos, “speech”).

• IPA^(key): /əˈpɒl.ə.dʒi/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɒlədʒi

apology (plural apologies)

1. An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).

   What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.

   The CEO made a public apology for the scandal, and promised full cooperation with the authorities.

2. A formal justification, defence.

   The Apology of Socrates.

3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

   a poor apology for a hotel room

   • Charles Dickens

     He goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.

• (formal justification): apologia

• apologian, apologist, apologize, apologizer, preapology

• apologetic; apologetics; apologia

• remorse

• apology in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• apology in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.