apologetic
Americanadjective
-
expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite
-
protecting or defending in speech or writing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of apologetic
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English apologetik “a formal defense,” from Middle French or directly from Late Latin apologēticus “written defense, defensive,” Greek apologētikós “fit for defense,” equivalent to apologē- (variant stem of apologeîsthai “to speak in defense”; see apologia) + -tikos -tic
Explanation
If you're apologetic, you're very sorry about something. You might offer an apologetic smile at another driver if you accidentally honk at her. Someone who's apologetic is regretful or contrite, and usually openly expresses this feeling in some way. An apologetic note might say, "I am so sorry I picked all the flowers off your rose bush!" Apologetic was originally a noun, and its meaning in the 1600s was much closer to "justification" than "apology." It comes from a Greek root, apologetikos, "defensible." It didn't come to mean "regretfully acknowledging failure" until 1855.
Vocabulary lists containing apologetic
Feeling Sorry?
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myPerspectives 6.3
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ic
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Apologetic university officials say they want to do right by the brothers and at least reimburse their travel expenses and offer them VIP treatment on another tour.
From Washington Times • May 16, 2018
"As far as world attention on Mormonism goes, it's huge," says Scott Gordon, a former Mormon bishop and president of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, which aims to counter misinformation about the Church.
From BBC • Nov. 16, 2012
Apologetic but not penitent, Gable pretends to destroy the film.
From Time Magazine Archive
Apologetic city officials say they don't have a record of the request.
From Time Magazine Archive
De Castro published a reply, which he called Apologetic.
From The History of the Inquisition of Spain from the Time of its Establishment to the Reign of Ferdinand VII. by Llorente, Juan Antonio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
