apologia

noun

ap·​o·​lo·​gia ˌa-pə-ˈlō-j(ē-)ə 

: a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions

the finest apologia or explanation of what drives a man to devote his life to pure mathematics

—British Book News

Did you know?

As you might expect, apologia is a close relative of apology. Both words come from Late Latin; apologia came to English as a direct borrowing while apology traveled through Middle French. The Latin apologia can be traced back to the Greek verb apologeîsthai, meaning "to speak in defense; defend oneself." In their earliest English uses, apologia and apology meant basically the same thing: a formal defense or justification of one's actions or opinions. Nowadays, however, the two are distinct. The modern apology generally involves an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of regret for past actions, while an apologia typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.

Choose the Right Synonym for apologia

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

Examples of apologia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The song — a moody, synthy ballad — is an apologia of sorts for, uh, something. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025

Prime Video’s Identity Crisis None of this should be taken as some sort of blanket apologia for Salke’s tenure. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025

Taken in bad faith, some of these things might sound like apologia or good fortune, but that is the nature of tennis and of seizing the moment: winning against what is immediately in front of you. —James Hansen, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024

One assumption of the new wave of apologias for liberalism is that, to keep attracting adherents, the stagnating ideology must be recast as a spiritual enterprise, or a personal therapy, or a grand and invigorating project. —Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin — more at apology

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

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