apology

/ə'pɔlədʤi/

Definition

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.

Noun

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

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apology — He wrote a letter of apology to the hostess.