apology

UK: /əˈpɒlədʒi/ US: /əˈpɑlədʒi/ ,(ə pol′ə jē)

Inflections of 'apology' (n): npl: apologies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•pol•o•gy /əˈpɑlədʒi/   n., pl. -gies. 

1. an expression of regret for having committed an error or for being rude:
   [countable] I sent an apology to her right away.
   [uncountable] a gesture of apology.
2. a defense or justification of a cause or doctrine:
   [countable] His treatise was supposed to be an apology for war.
3. an inferior substitute;
   excuse:
   [countable] was a poor apology for a parent.

Related Words

apology is a noun, apologize is a verb, apologetic is an adjective:
You owe her an apology. You should apologize to her. He was very apologetic about spilling the ink.
See -log-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•pol•o•gy  (ə pol′ə jē), n., pl. -gies. 

1. 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.
2. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
3. Literature (cap., italics) a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates' defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.
4. an inferior specimen or substitute;
   makeshift:
   The tramp wore a sad apology for a hat.

• Greek; see apologia
• Late Latin apologia
• Middle French)
• earlier apologie, late Middle English apologe (1400–50

Synonyms

• 2. vindication. See excuse. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

apology / əˈpɒlədʒɪ/ noun ( -gies)

1. an oral or written expression of regret or contrition for a fault or failing
2. a poor substitute or offering
3. another word for apologia

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Greek: a verbal defence, from apo- + logos speech