apology

/ə'pɔlədʤi/

Thân thiện

He wrote a letter of apology to the hostess.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal statement saying you are sorry for something wrong you have done: An expression of regret or remorse for an offense, fault, or mistake.
   • A defense or justification of a belief or course of action: A formal written or spoken argument defending something one believes in.
   • A poor or inadequate example of something: Something that is so bad or inferior it barely qualifies as an example of its type.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Expression of regret):
  • She demanded an apology for his rude comment.
  • He offered a sincere apology for being late.
• Noun (Formal defense):
  • Plato's "Apology" is a defense of Socrates's life and philosophy.
• Noun (Poor example):
  • This wilted salad is an apology for a meal.

Advanced Usage

• "To owe someone an apology": To have a responsibility to say you are sorry to someone.
  • After realizing his mistake, he knew he owed her an apology.
• "To make no apology for something": To not feel or express regret for one's actions or beliefs; to be unapologetic.
  • She makes no apology for her strong political views.

Variants and Related Words

• Apologize (verb): To express regret for something one has done wrong.
  • You should apologize to your sister.
• Apologetic (adjective): Showing or expressing regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
  • He was very apologetic about the misunderstanding.
• Apologist (noun): A person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial.
  • He was a leading apologist for the new economic policy.

Synonyms

• Excuse: A reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offense. (Note: Often implies a weaker defense than "apology" for regret.)
• Justification: The action of showing something to be right or reasonable. (Closer to the "defense" meaning.)
• Plea: A request made in an urgent and emotional manner, sometimes for forgiveness.

Related Phrases

• Letter of apology: A written statement expressing regret.
  • The company sent a formal letter of apology to all affected customers.
• Public apology: An apology issued openly to a group or the general public.
  • The celebrity issued a public apology for the offensive tweet.
• Apology accepted: A phrase used to indicate forgiveness after an apology is given.
  • "I'm so sorry." "Apology accepted."

Idioms

• An apology for (something): A very poor example of something.
  • That shack is an apology for a house.
• To be beyond apology: To be so bad that an apology is insufficient.
  • His actions were so harmful they were beyond apology.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a poor example
   • it was an apology for a meal
   • a poor excuse for an automobile
2. a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly
3. an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
   • he wrote a letter of apology to the hostess

Từ đồng nghĩa

• excuse
• apologia