apology

apol·o·gy

noun \ə-ˈpä-lə-jē\

plural apol·o·gies

Definition of APOLOGY

1

a : a formal justification : defense

b : excuse 2a

2

: an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret <a public apology>

3

: a poor substitute : makeshift

Examples of APOLOGY

1. The company issued an official apology to its customers for its error.
2. Please accept our sincerest apologies for any problems we may have caused.
3. He made a public apology for his controversial remarks.
4. He refused to accept my apology.
5. We received a letter of apology from the company.
6. I made my apologies and left.

Origin of APOLOGY

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Greek, from apo- + logos speech — more at legend

First Known Use: 1533

Related to APOLOGY

Synonyms

alibi, excuse, defense, justification, plea, reason

Related Words

color, guise, pretense (or pretence), pretext, rationale, rationalization, vindication, whitewash; cop-out, out; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), atonement, confession; extenuation, palliation

Synonym Discussion of APOLOGY

apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense. apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances <said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could>. apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position <his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy>. excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure <used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting>. plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy <her usual plea that she was nearsighted>. pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation <used any pretext to get out of work>. alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation <his alibi failed to stand scrutiny>.

Rhymes with APOLOGY

andrology, anthology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

apology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In literature, an autobiographical form in which a defense is the framework for discussion of the author's personal beliefs. Examples include Plato's Apology (4th century BC), in which Socrates answers his accusers by giving a history of his life and moral commitment, and John Henry Newman's Apologia pro Vita Sua (1864), an examination of the principles that inspired his conversion to Roman Catholicism.