apologize

especially British, a·pol·o·gise

[uh-pol-uh-jahyz]

verb (used without object)

apologized, apologizing 

1. to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury.

   He apologized for accusing her falsely.

2. to make a formal defense in speech or writing.

apologize

/ əˈpɒləˌdʒaɪz /

verb

1. to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults

2. to make a formal defence in speech or writing

Other Word Forms

• apologizer noun
• reapologize verb (used with object)
• unapologizing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of apologize¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; apolog(y) + -ize

Example Sentences

Wallace apologized for her actions and pledged to pay back the money that she had stolen, but said that she heard through a “second-hand” source that the church may seek charges against her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In his own letter to the judge ahead of his sentencing Friday, Combs said he was taking “full responsibility and accountability” for his “past wrongs,” and apologized for the pain he’s caused others.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He apologized for the claim and clarified that they just sat near each other on the same flight.

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He did not, however, apologize on air or publicly in a broadcast, so the audience who heard his remarks may not have seen or heard the apology.

Read more on Salon

“I love it,” Armisen promises as our Zoom conversation goes over the hour mark and I apologize for keeping him.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• atone 
• confess 
• retract 
• withdraw 

When To Use

Spelling tips for apologize

The word apologize is hard to spell because it is pronounced like it might be spelled with two as and a j [ uh-pol-uh-jahyz ]. To make it even more confusing, apologize is the American English spelling of the word. In British English, it is spelled with an s: apologise.How to spell apologize: The easiest way to remember how to spell apologize is to break it into three parts: apo - log - ize. The suffix -ize is used to describe kinds of behavior. You can also pronounce it this way in your head to help the spelling stick.