apologetic

[ uh-pol-uh-jet-ik ]
See synonyms for: apologeticapologetically on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. containing an apology or excuse for a fault, failure, insult, injury, etc.: An apologetic letter to his creditors explained the delay.

  2. defending by speech or writing.

  1. willing or eager to apologize.

Origin of apologetic

1
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
  • Rarely a·pol·o·get·i·cal [uh-pol-uh-jet-i-kuhl] /əˌpɒl əˈdʒɛt ɪ kəl/ .

Other words from apologetic

  • a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
  • non·a·pol·o·get·i·cal, adjective
  • non·a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pseu·do·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
  • pseu·do·a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • qua·si-a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
  • qua·si-a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective

Words Nearby apologetic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use apologetic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for apologetic

apologetic

/ (əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk) /


adjective
  1. expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite

  2. protecting or defending in speech or writing

Derived forms of apologetic

  • apologetically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012