What does apology mean?
An apology is a spoken or written expression of regret offered by someone who has done wrong, made a mistake, or caused harm, usually with the aim of acknowledging fault and repairing a relationship. It is among the most socially significant speech acts in English: a well-made apology names the offence, accepts responsibility, and shows awareness of the harm caused, while a grudging or qualified apology can do further damage. The word also preserves an older, now rarer sense meaning a reasoned defence of a position or way of life, as in Plato's Apology, where Socrates vigorously justifies himself rather than expresses remorse. Derived forms include the verbs apologize (or British apologise) and the adjective apologetic, which describes both expressions of regret and, in scholarly writing, defensive justification. Because the word spans everything from casual 'sorry' exchanges to formal diplomatic statements, it remains essential vocabulary for navigating personal, professional, and public life.
nounA spoken or written expression of regret for having done something wrong or caused harm, often accompanied by a request for forgiveness. In its older and more formal sense, it can also mean a reasoned defence or justification of a belief or course of action.
- An expression of regret or sorrow for a wrongdoing, mistake, or offence, typically offered to acknowledge fault and seek forgiveness.
- A formal statement or work defending or justifying a person, position, or set of beliefs (as in Plato's Apology of Socrates).
"She issued a sincere public apology after the misunderstanding came to light."
"He offered a heartfelt apology to his colleagues for missing the deadline."
"The book stands as a passionate apology for a life devoted to science over convention."
The plural is common when referring to multiple instances of regret or repeated offers of regret, e.g. in correspondence or formal statements.
"Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying."
Plato's famous 'Apology' isn't Socrates saying sorry — in ancient Greek, an 'apologia' meant a full-throated defence, not an admission of guilt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apology
Apology derives from the Greek 'apologia', meaning a speech in defence, formed from 'apo-' ('away from') and 'logos' ('speech, reasoning'). The word entered English in the early 16th century through Latin, initially carrying the defensive sense familiar from classical works such as Plato's Apology of Socrates. Over the following centuries the modern sense of expressing regret for a fault developed and eventually became dominant, though cognates such as 'apologetics' retain the older idea of reasoned defence.
Related word forms
How apology is actually used
In modern usage the word almost always carries connotations of admitting fault, so using it to mean 'defence' can confuse readers unless the context is clearly literary, historical, or theological. A genuine apology is generally expected to include acknowledgement of the specific harm done; phrases like 'I apologize if anyone was offended' are widely perceived as evasive rather than sincere.
Easily confused with apology
An apologia is a formal written or spoken defence or justification of one's beliefs or conduct, whereas an apology in everyday use expresses regret rather than defends.