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

The editorial board is an apologist for authoritarianism. —Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

Yup, that’s what the apologists say, until the trolling enters a more substantial stage, and the apologists have to adjust accordingly. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025

The report got immediate pushback, especially among Trump’s apologists. —Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Apr. 2025

Davis and his once honorable party are now apologists. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025

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

1602, 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