apologist

noun

apol·​o·​gist ə-ˈpä-lə-jist 

plural apologists

: someone who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something that is typically controversial, unpopular, or subject to criticism

… an apologist for moneyed interests.

—S. L. Price

Apologists argued that funneling contracts to his children did not matter too much since the projects—new roads, factories, airports—did get built.

—Johanna McGeary

Apologists for the status quo will always claim that if change were really needed, the market would have already made it happen.

—Michael Grunwald

Examples of apologist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, his own mother (Laura Tonke) is a Nazi apologist who’s also in advanced stages of pregnancy. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026

Conservatives for years have complained that the group is an extremism apologist, according to The New York Times. —Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

The connection between the antisemitic rhetoric and antisemitic violence is becoming hard to deny, even for the most ardent apologists. —Nolan Finley, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

Inside of tech, many bubble apologists acknowledge the downsides. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin apologista, from Late Latin apologia "defense in speech or writing" + New Latin -ista -ist entry 1 — more at apology

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for apologist

• biologist
• ecologist
• ethnologist
• geologist
• hydrologist
• neurologist
• oncologist
• pathologist
• philologist
• psychologist
• technologist
• urologist

Kids Definition

apologist

noun

apol·​o·​gist ə-ˈpäl-ə-jəst 

: one who speaks or writes in defense of a faith, cause, or institution