Dictionary / apology
apology
- noun
- from French
An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “apology” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.
- A formal justification, defence.
the Apology of Socrates
- Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
a poor apology for a hotel room
Cross-check: WordNet senses (3)
- nounan expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
- nouna formal written defense of something you believe in strongly — also: apologia
- nouna poor example — also: excuse
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)apology
- Frenchapologie
- Late Latinapologia
- Ancient Greekἀπολογία (apología) “a speech in defence”
- Ancient Greekἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoûmai) “I speak in my defense”
- Ancient Greekἀπόλογος (apólogos) “an account, story”
- Ancient Greekἀπό (apó) “from, off” + λόγος (lógos) “speech”
From French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defence”), from ἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoûmai, “I speak in my defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), from ἀπό (apó, “from, off”) (see apo-) + λόγος (lógos, “speech”). Doublet of apologia. By surface analysis, apo- + -logy.
Derivatives — words built from “apology”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “apology” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “apology” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
apology n. [L. apologia, Gr. apologie. See Apologetic.]
- Something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity.
- An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or injurious remark or act; an admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.
- Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
apology v. i.
- To offer an apology.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.
The CEO made a public apology for the scandal, and promised full cooperation with the authorities.
nounMeaning: A formal justification, defence.
the Apology of Socrates
nounMeaning: Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
a poor apology for a hotel room
[He] goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter 20, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:
nounMeaning: an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
he wrote a letter of apology to the hostess
nounMeaning: a poor example
it was an apology for a meal
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
apology
/əˈpɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
apology
/əˈpɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “apology” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.”
Circle the meaning used.
“the Apology of Socrates”
Circle the meaning used.
“a poor apology for a hotel room”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “apology” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Ancient Greek ἀπόλογος. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — apology
Which meaning, sentence 1: B. An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
Which meaning, sentence 2: A. A formal justification, defence.
Which meaning, sentence 3: C. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
Origin: C. French (French apologie)
Journey: English apology ← French apologie ← Late Latin apologia ← Ancient Greek ἀπολογία ← Ancient Greek ἀπολογοῦμαι ← Ancient Greek ἀπόλογος ← Ancient Greek ἀπό + λόγος
Some derivatives: antapology, apologee, apologian, apologise, apologism, apologist, apologize, apologizer
Original meaning: Ancient Greek ἀπόλογος — “an account, story”
Built from: ἀπό “from, off” + λόγος “speech”
Etymology: From French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defence”), from ἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoûmai, “I speak in my defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), from ἀπό (apó, “from, off”) (see apo-) + λόγος (lógos, “speech”). Doublet of apologia. By surface analysis, apo- + -logy.
Sources: Wiktionary “apology” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/apology#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/apology