apologetic

American  

[uh-pol-uh-jet-ik] / əˌpɒl əˈdʒɛt ɪk /

Rarely apologetical

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.

3. willing or eager to apologize.

4. sorry; regretful.

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apologetic British  

/ əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk /

adjective

1. expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite

2. protecting or defending in speech or writing

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Other Word Forms

• apologetically adverb
• nonapologetic adjective
• nonapologetical adjective
• nonapologetically adverb
• pseudoapologetic adjective
• pseudoapologetically adverb
• quasi-apologetic adjective
• quasi-apologetically adverb
• unapologetic adjective

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”; 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.

Example Sentences

But her very existence gave a certain kind of young woman a compelling model of how to be a brasher, less apologetic, more feminist person in the world.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Cynthia, who in her 20s entered a marriage that any actuarial table would have advised strongly against, is almost apologetic for finding herself wed to Warren.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

At times, he had appeared apologetic after an incident and was said to have told one female staff member he "can't help myself".

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025

It’s in Puerto Rico, a fact that organizers seem apologetic about.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2025

I shot Davis an apologetic look, but he didn’t see, because he was looking at my mom.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• conciliatory
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• repentant
• sorry