Does apologize always mean "to say 'I'm sorry'"?

The verb apologize is a surprisingly recent introduction to the English language when one stops to consider that we have likely been committing deeds which require an apology since time immemorial. Our earliest current record of use comes at the end of the 16th century, in the writing of Thomas Nash:

”….but as the Elephant and the Rinoceros neuer fight but about the best pastures, so will I winne from him his best Patrons, and driue him to confesse himselfe a Conundrum, who now thinks he hath learning inough to proue the saluation of Lucifer; Apologize it for him as many Chutes, Barnesses, or vile riggers, or Fregeuiles as there will.”

The earliest uses of apologize more often meant “to offer an excuse or defense” than “to acknowledge a fault.” The verb came into our language from the noun apology, which similarly had an initial meaning (beginning in the early 16th century) that did not necessarily acknowledge fault (“something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others to be wrong or of what may be liable to disapprobation”).

Examples of apologize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Schrader did apologize after calling the second impeachment of Trump, following the Jan. 6 insurrection, a lynching. — Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 My in-laws did not apologize, nor acknowledge wrongdoing. — cleveland, 3 Apr. 2022 My in-laws did not apologize, nor acknowledge wrongdoing. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022 My in-laws did not apologize, nor acknowledge wrongdoing. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 3 Apr. 2022 My in-laws did not apologize, nor acknowledge wrongdoing. — Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 3 Apr. 2022 Smith did not apologize to Rock on Sunday, but did offer an apology in a statement on Monday. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 31 Mar. 2022 Vonhatten came back to the house days later to apologize and offer the man money for the attack, documents said. — Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2022 But on the other side are those who truly are isolationists, really do apologize for Putin, and don’t particularly value liberal democracy, with Tucker Carlson being the most prominent example. — Blaise Malley, The New Republic, 26 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apologize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.