apologize

[ uh-pol-uh-jahyz ]

verb (used without object)

, a·pol·o·gized, a·pol·o·giz·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• aˈpoloˌgizer, noun

Other Words From

• a·polo·gizer noun
• rea·polo·gize verb (used with object) reapologized reapologizing
• una·polo·gizing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of apologize¹

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

Example Sentences

Instead, Krvaric complained about the media and the Democratic Party, stopping short of denying his involvement with the video and so far has not apologized.

From Voice of San Diego

Morse denied ever having a “non-consensual sexual encounter” or violating UMass policies, but admitted that he’d had consensual relationships with students at area universities and apologized for making some students feel uncomfortable.

From FiveThirtyEight

If our students have been subjected, I apologize and we need to and we can get better and we are committed to the work.

From Voice of San Diego

It wasn’t something I should have sampled from like that and I apologize.

From Voice of San Diego

One marathon budget hearing with hundreds of calls to slash $100 million from the police budget later, elected leaders have been forced to apologize for failing to vote with the suddenly powerful defund movement.

From Voice of San Diego

Before I could apologize to his mother he ran back out to the living room with a poster of his dad and opened it up for me to see.

From The Daily Beast

In September 2005, Beebe wrote a letter to my home to apologize.

From The Daily Beast

They have refused to apologize, which is all I have ever wanted.

From The Daily Beast

You must atone, apologize, and beg forgiveness for the thousands of LGBT lives you have taken.

From The Daily Beast

I was told they had removed my blog and that I must apologize for publishing it.

From The Daily Beast

"I did not mean to speak unkindly, Michael," he stammered with a view to apologize.

From Project Gutenberg

"Always farouche, dear Miss Warrender, but I apologize," he continued as he gave her his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

She saw at once that he resented her leisurely way and her attempt at affability, and she hastened to apologize.

From Project Gutenberg

He drew her attention to a passage where he called upon Heaven to forbid that he should appear to apologize for so great a man.

From Project Gutenberg

Still holding the man, she made him get down on his knees on the curb to the girls and apologize.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• atone
• confess
• retract
• withdraw

How Do You Spell Apologize?

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.