apology
Americannoun
-
apologies
plural
-
a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.
He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.
-
a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
- Synonyms:
- vindication
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(initial capital letter, italics) a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates' defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.
-
an inferior specimen or substitute; makeshift.
The tramp wore a sad apology for a hat.
noun
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an oral or written expression of regret or contrition for a fault or failing
-
a poor substitute or offering
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another word for apologia
Synonym Usage
See excuse.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of apology
First recorded in 1500–50; earlier apologie, late Middle English (from Middle French ), from Late Latin apologia, from Greek apología, “speech in self-defense; defense,” see apologia
Explanation
An apology is what you say or do when you want to let someone know (or fool them into thinking) that you regret something. An apology is nice, but chocolates or large bundles of cash are nicer. Always. The noun apology has its roots in the Greek apologos, meaning a story. It entered the English language in the Middle Ages. If you broke your friend’s sword and then made up an elaborate story to get out of trouble, that was an apology. After a few decades, the general sense of the word shifted to its current meaning — what you say when you want to express real remorse.
Vocabulary lists containing apology
Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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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.
See Examples For:
The plaintiff here sued for money, but settled for an apology and something he never formally requested: immunity.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026
Harrods, which since 2010 has been owned by the sovereign-wealth fund of Qatar, issued a public apology in 2024 and said it was appalled by the abuse allegations against Al Fayed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
We may see a statement that will include an apology and a promise of change.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The controversy prompted a public apology and the one-off early closure of the chain's more than 2,000 stores nationwide for staff education in June.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Benji could almost imagine the apology forming in Felix’s brain.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
“I wish to extend my most sincere apologies to everyone impacted by my words,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
After Stodden reposted and questioned the clip earlier this week, Alexander said he was "deeply sorry" and offered her his "sincerest apologies".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
If that sounds dramatic, she makes no apologies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
If she’s facing a problem, apologies are issued.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Madam, he had decided he would say, please accept my heartfelt and most humble apologies.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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.
