apologetic

1 of 2

adjective

apol·​o·​get·​ic ə-ˌpä-lə-ˈje-tik 

1

: feeling or showing regret : regretfully acknowledging fault or failure : expressing an apology

They were apologetic about the error.

We received an apologetic letter.

an apologetic smile/tone

2

: offered in defense or vindication

the apologetic writings of the early Christians

apologetically

ə-ˌpä-lə-ˈje-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

apologetic

2 of 2

noun

: apologetics sense 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• compunctious
• contrite
• penitent
• regretful
• remorseful
• repentant
• rueful
• sorry

Examples of apologetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The four-time major winner was suitably apologetic and empathetic to Musetti’s plight. —Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025

Gascón has veered between being apologetic and remorseful about the posts, to raging against her critics. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025

Noun

Roman Reigns, followed by an apologetic Paul Heyman. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Her voice was comforting and faintly apologetic; a murmur a person might use to inform a kitten that its illness is terminal. —Caity Weaver, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin apologēticus "defensive, justifying," borrowed from Greek apologētikós "suitable for defence, offered in defense," from apologē-, variant stem of apologéomai, apologeîsthai "to speak in defense, defend oneself, be an advocate for" (Late Greek, "be an advocate for the Christian faith") (from apo- apo- + -logeomai, -logeisthai, verbal derivative of lógos "word, speech, argument") + -t-, verbal adjective formative + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at legend

Noun

Middle English apologetik, borrowed from Medieval Latin apologēticus or apologēticum, noun derivatives from masculine and neuter of Late Latin apologēticus "defensive, justifying" — more at apologetic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for apologetic

• aeromagnetic
• antiemetic
• antipathetic
• biogenetic
• biomimetic
• biosynthetic
• cytogenetic
• diagenetic
• diamagnetic
• diaphoretic
• epigenetic
• ferromagnetic

Kids Definition

apologetic

adjective

apol·​o·​get·​ic

ə-ˌpäl-ə-ˈjet-ik

1

: offered by way of apology

an apologetic smile

2

: sorry for some fault or failure

apologetically

-ˈjet-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb